LIBRARY 

OF  THE 


MASSACHUSETTS 

AGRICULTURAL 

COLLEGE 

souRCE.i  389  unfl-.— 

/  M98 


DATE  DUE                          1 

•=»* 


/ 


MY      VINEYARD 


AT 


LAKEVIEW. 


BY 


A  WESTERN  GRAPE  GROWER. 


NEW-YORK? 

ORANGE    JUDD     &     COMPANY. 

41   PARK   ROW. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1866,  by 

ORANGE  JUDD  &  CO., 

At  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the 
Southern  District  of  New-York. 


LovEJOY  &  Sox, 

Elkctkotypeks  and  Stereotypees. 

15  Vandewater  street  N.  Y. 


CONTENTS. 


L— THE   SUGGESTION 5 

II.— MAKING  A  CHANGE 7 

III.— GOING    WEST 13 

IV.— GETTING    SETTLED 21 

Our  House 22 

The  Barn 24 

Fences  and  Fencing- 26 

^               Buying-  Stock 27 

Plans  for  Future  Operations 30 

Debit  and  Credit 34 

v.— FIRST    EXPERIENCE S5 

Book  Farming 36 

Planting  an  Orchard 37 

A  Glance  at  other  Things ; 44 

VI.— NEW    EXPERIENCES 47 

A  Visit  to  Hermann 48 

Planting-  a  Vine 50 

Continued  Experience 52 

More  Encouraging  Results 55 

Arriving  at  a  Conclusion 56 

VII.— PLANTING   A  VINEVAND 57 

Definition  of  Terms 57 

Soil  and  its  Preparat  ion 58 

Planting  and  First  Year's  Care 59 

Grape  Growing  Contagious 61 

The  Second  Year *. 63 

Making  Progress 63 

The  Third  Year 64 

The  Fourth  Year 65 

Obviating  a  Difficulty 66 

The  Fifth  Year 67 

Facts  and  Figures 68 

VIIL— PROPAGATION    OF   THE   VINE 71 


IV  CONTENTS. 

IX.— SOILS  AND  SITUATIONS 81 

Wide  Adaptation  of  the  Grape 81 

Lake  Eiie  Grape  Region 83 

Pleasant  Valley  Region 85 

Importance  of  Situation 86 

Protection 87 

X.— PREPARATION  OF  SOILS 89 

Underdraining 90 

Deep  Tillage 90 

Borders 91 

XL— MANURES 93 

XIL— PRUNING   AND  TRAINING 99 

XIIL— MORE   ABOUT  PRUNING  AND   TRAINING 105 

Trellis 105 

First  Year 107 

Second  Year 108 

Third  Year 109 

Fourth  Year 110 

Subsequent  Management Ill 

XIV.— AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF  A   VINE  • 113 

XV.— BRIEF    EXPOSITIONS 121 

Tying 121 

Packing  Fruit 122 

Picking  for  Wine 123 

Systems  of  Pruning 123 

Time  of  Pruning 123 

Effects  of  Pruning 123 

Vines  without  Pruning , 124 

Training  near  the  Ground 124 

Diseases 125 

Insects 125 

Time  of  Planting 126 

Manure 126 

Situation 127 

Preparation  of  Soil 127 

Soil 128 

Distance  Apart 128 

XVL— VARIETIES 129 

XVIL— NEW    GRAPE    REGIONS 131 

Who  shall  plant  Grapes  ? 132 

XVIIL— ANCIENT    METHODS   OF   CULTURE 135 

XIX.— THE  RESPONSE 141 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE   'suggestion. 

*  *  *  "  On  my  way  home,"  wrote  a  friend,  "  the  incidents 
of  my  little  visit  in  Lakeview  came  naturally  to  mind.  The 
quiet  and  unostentation,  and  the  evidences  of  genuine  con- 
tentment which  were  apparent  on  every  hand,  presented 
pleasant  pictures  for  contemplation.  And  not  least  among 
them  was  the  satisfaction,  I  might  almost  say  delight, 
with  which  you  worked  among  your  vineyards,  with  their 
rich  treasures  of  purple  fruit.  Calling  this  to  mind,  and 
coupling  it  with  your  substantial  success,  the  suggestion 
presented  itself,  '  why  should  he  not  make  a  book  giving 
a  record  of  his  experience  T  '  Because,'  say  you,  '  not  au- 
thorship, but  farming  is  my  vocation.'  True ;  but  rheto- 
ric, and  nicely  rounded  periods,  and  grand  displays  of 
words  are  not  wanted — only  a  '  plain,  unvarnished  tale,' 
a  simple  record  of  methods  and  Avays ;  but  all  the  better 


b  MY    VINEYAKD. 

if  occasional  glimpses  of  Lakeview  and  its  surroundings 
are  revealed.  '  But  what  are  the  benefits  to  be  attained? ' 
you  ask.  I  know  not,  surely  ;  they  may  be  few  or  many  ; 
but  are  there  none  who  can  be  guided  by  your  experience 
to  a  success  equal  to  your  own  ?  As  I  write  these  lines, 
and  call  to  mind  your  employment  and  your  home,  I  al- 
most wish  I  too  had  laid  aside  the  rule  and  stick  in  the 
earlier  years,  and  taken  up  the  knife  and  spade.  And 
even  the  question  comes,  '  Is  it  now^  too  late  ?  '  Perhaps 
your  '  record,'  when  it  reaches  me,  will  aiford  an  answer." 
So  I  pondered  the  suggestion  wliich  my  friend  had 
made;  and  acted  upon  it  when  the  long  Avinter  evenings 
had  come. 


MY   VINEYARD. 


CHAPTER  II. 

MAKING    A    CHANGE* 

Twelve  years  have  passed  since  I  planted  my  first  vine. 
I  commenced  under  difficulties,  and  have  met  with  some 
discouragements.  But  my  labor  and  perseverance  have 
been  well  rewarded  in  the  success  which  I  have  attained. 
To  be  sure,  I  might  have  reached  the  same  results  in  half 
the  time  had  I  commenced  with  a  better  knowledge  of  my 
subject.  Many  errors  into  which  I  have  fallen  might  have 
been  avoided,  and  needless  expenditures  of  tune  and 
money  saved.  In  looking  back  upon  my  experience,  I 
can  now  see  where  better  methods  might  have  been  pur- 
sued. I  can  see  wherein  a  little  knowledge  might  have 
saved  many  losses,  and  much  discouragement.  The  in- 
formation which  would  have  enabled  me  to  avoid  these 
losses,  I  believe  I  can  now  impart  to  others.  Nothing,  it 
is  true,  can  in  any  business  take  the  place  of  experience  ; 
but  we  can  frequently,  when  commencing  a  new  enter- 


8  MY    YIXEYAED 

prise,  so  far  avail  ourselves  of  the  experience  of  others  as 
to  materially  affect  the  success  which  we  may  attain.  In 
making  this  record  of  my  experience,  I  disclaim  all  efforts 
at  fine  writing.  My  only  aim  will  be  to  give  the  facts  in 
the  case,  in  the  simplest  and  plainest  language  I  can  com- 
mand. 

When  I  first  took  up  rural  pursuits  as  my  vocation,  I 
"was  not  altogether  unacquainted  with  the  theories  and 
principles  w^hich  pertain  to  them.  From  my  boyhood,  I 
have  always  had  a  great  fondness  for  gardening,  and  all 
labor  incident  to  country  life.  When  learning  my  trade 
in  the  village  printing  office,  I  took  great  delight  in  read- 
ing all  the  agricultural  and  horticultural  exchanges.  My 
companion  apprentice.  Bob,  as  we  called  him  then,  always 
thought  it  stupid  to  read  j^apers  of  that  kind,  preferring, 
for  himself,  to  follow  uj?  wdtli  great  care  all  political  con- 
troversies, and  taking  great  delight  at  the  complete  sum- 
mersaults which  expert  politicians  (in  those  days)  some- 
times found  it  convenient  to  make.  Many  of  these 
horticultural  publications  I  took  j^ossession  of,  by  permis- 
sion of  the  editor,  and  carefully  preserved.  I  now  consider 
them  one  of  the  important  features  of  my  little  library. 

All  this  time  I  had  in  mind  the  picture  of  a  pleasant 
country  home,  where  I  could  employ  myself  in  tilling  the 
soil,  and  could  spend  the  quiet  evenings  with  my  books 
and  papers — but  not  alone.  Some  one  was  there  who 
was  the  light  of  home.     After  all,  I  did  not   think  when 


MY    VINEYARD.  9 

looking  at  this  ideal  picture  that  it  would  ever  be  realized 
as  it  has  been,  or  what  a  part  of  my  very  self  that  "  light  " 
was  to  become.  I  can  only  feel  thankful  that  a  kind 
fortune  has  dealt  out  blessings  to  me  with  so  liberal  a 
hand. 

On  finishing  my  trade,  and  becoming  foreman  of  the 
office,  I  found  the  labor  and  confinement  quite  wearing. 
A  short  respite  from  work  seemed  necessary.  Accord- 
ingly my  wife  and  I,  (we  had  been  two  years  married,) 
made  a  week's  visit  with  some  country  friends,  who  were 
a  half  day's  journey  by  rail.  The  bit  of  rural  life  which 
this  visit  afi'orded,  only  served  to  recall  and  brighten  up 
the  picture  of  rural  pursuits  which  I  had  long  since  drawn. 
June  was  abroad  in  all  her  glory.  There  were  bright 
skies,  and  green  pastures,  and  rich  woods,  and  broad 
fields  of  blooming  clover ;  there  were  contented  cattle, 
and  quiet  sheep,  and  sleek,  strong  horses  ;  there  were  ru- 
ral sights  and  sounds  on  every  hand. 

When  we  had  returned  home  I  proposed  to  my  Avife 

the  propriety  of  changing  my  employment  in  the  office 

for  that  of  farming.     In  our  discussions  of  the  subject,  we 

did  not  forget  that  there  are  two  sides  to  country  life — 

that  it  is  not  always  June.     My  plan  was  not  to  procure 

a  large  farm  and  engage  in  general  farming,  but  rather  to 

confine  myself  more   particularly  to  fruit-growing,   on  a 

moderate  sized  farm  of  about  forty  acres.     The  prospects 
1* 


10  MY    VINEYARD. 

looked   so   encouraging  that  I  concluded   to   give  np  my 
place  in  the  printing  office,  and  try  our  fortune  at  farming. 

I  had  no  foult  to  find  with  my  employment  in  the  office. 
I  looked  upon  the  business,  and  still  look  upon  it,  as  one 
of  the  most  honorable  in  which  a  man  can  engage.  The 
newspaper  is,  and  must  ever  be,  the  chief  educator  of  a 
free  people.  All  who  engage  upon  it  are  worthily  em- 
ployed,  be  they  editor,  contributor,  or  workman.  No  one 
can  estimate  the  good  which  the  American  press  has 
wrought  for  the  American  people.  That  some  portions 
are  bad,  does  not  change  the  result,  as  they  serve  to  give 
force  and  piquancy  to  the  predominant  good. 

The  w^ages  I  received  were  sufficient  for  the  comfortable 
maintenance  of  myself  and  wife.  But  I  could  accumulate 
little  to  provide  against  future  contingencies.  No  man 
can  become  wealthy  by  his  own  labor.  Money  being 
merely  the  representative  of  labor,  the  person  who  accu- 
mulates, must  be  able  to  avail  himself  of  at  least  a  portion 
of  the  labor  which  others  perform.  If  the  farmer  growls 
wealthy,  it  is  because,  as  w^e  may  say,  nature  works  for 
him.  He  sows  the  seed  and  the  plant  springs  forth.  He 
gives  it  a  little  attention  now  and  then,  but  when  he  is 
away,  or  when  asleep,  the  plant  w^orks  on,  perfecting  the 
fruit  w^hich  he  takes  to  market  and  sells.  Tiie  trees  in 
the  orchard,  the  vine  in  the  vineyard,  the  grain  in  the 
field,  are  all  laborers  in  the  employment  of  the  farmer. 


MY    VINEYARD.  11 

Having  determined  upon  a  change  in  my  vocation,  the 
next  thing  was  to  form  a  plan  and  carry  it  into  execution. 
The  first  efforts  in  this  direction  are  given  in  the  succeeding 
chapter. 


MY   VINEYAKD.  13 


CHAPTER  III 

GOING    WEST. 

"  Where  shall  we  go  ? "  was  the  practical  question 
which  first  presented  itself.  A  farm  in  the  vicinity  of  our 
native  village  seemed  most  desirable,  but  the  prices  of 
those  for  sale  were  quite  beyond  our  means.  A  tide  of 
emiojration  had  lonsj  since  commenced  its  flow  towards  the 
West.  Fabulous  stories  were  rife  of  the  success  which 
former  residents  of  our  quiet  New  England  village  had 
achieved.  Some  had  grown  rich  in  farming,  others  in 
trade,  while  others  had  become  distinguished  in  politics. 
Little  or  nothing  was  heard  of  those  who  remained  in 
poverty  and  obscurity.  The  inference  was,  that  out  West 
every  one  must  be  prosperous  and  rich.  Nevertheless, 
uncertain  stories  of  agues  and  malarious  fevers  were  fre- 
quently afloat.  But  they  were  usually  as  indefinite  as  the 
region  to  which  they  referred.  After  a  careful  considera- 
tion of  the  subject,  taking  into  account  our  means  and  the 


14  MY    VINEYARD. 

precise  objects  we  had  in  view,  the  most  appropriate  an- 
swer to  the  question  whicli  commences  this  chapter  seemed 
to  be  to  "  go  West."  So  I  made  a  journey  into  that  new 
and  prosperous  region  to  look  us  out  a  home.  And  new, 
indeed,  did  I  find  it,  new  in  appearance,  as  also  new  in 
the  ways,  and  notions,  and  practices  of  the  people. 

In  my  search  for  3,  place,  I  first  visited  such  of  my  ac- 
quaintances as  had  already  moved  to  the  western  country. 
This  took  me  into  several  of  the  most  prosperous  States, 
and  afforded  me  views  of  widely  diversified  scenery.  The 
prairie  regions  were  less  attractive  than  I  had  anticipated. 
Although  teeming  w^ith  inexhaustible  agricultural  w^ealth, 
there  was  a  monotony  in  the  appearance  of  the  prairies 
not  attractive  to  one  life-long  accustomed  to  rocks  and 
hills.  The  consideration  of  a  healthfnl  locality  was  a  prom- 
inent one  in  my  investigations.  But  it  was  a  curious 
fact,  that  I  could  find  no  place  which  the  people  considered 
as  particularly  unhealthy,  although  neighboring  localities 
were  quite  objectionable  as  regarded  their  sanitary  condi- 
tion. In  Pekin  they  had  the  ague  and  fevers  but  seldom, 
but  over  in  Sebastopol  tliey  had  it  almost  continually. 
Arriving  in  Sebastopol,  the  people  thought  their  region 
quite  healthful — that  they  hardly  ever  had  any  ague ;  but 
over  in  Pekin  they  had  it  about  all  the  w^hile.  I  also  ob- 
served that  nearly  every  one  was  ready  to  sell  out,  not  to 
return  East  again  by  any  means,  but  to  "go  West." 
This  readiness  to  move  did  not  arise  from  anv  dislike  to 


MY   VINEYARD,  15 

the  country,  but  from  a  habit  which  the  great  mass  of 
American  people  have  got  into,  a  habit  which  increases  in 
prevalence  the  further  West  we  go. 

This  continual  desire  for  a  change  of  place,  I  consider 
as  productive  of  bad  results.  When  one  is  continually 
expecting  to  move,  he  does  not  take  that  pains  to  make 
his  home  pleasant  and  comfortable,  which  he  otherwise 
would.  He  does  not  like  to  plant  trees,  and  flowers,  and 
fruit,  when  there  are  no  probabilities  of  his  reaping  the 
rewards  of  his  labor.  Thus  it  is  that  the  homes  of  the 
people  present  so  few  appearances  of  comfort  and  beauty. 
When  the  Amei-ican  people  learn  a  little  contentment, 
when  they  begin  to  make  for  themselves  homes  which  are 
to  be  tlieirs,  aud  for  their  enjoyment,  tlien  will  our  fair 
land  begin  to  blossom  as  the  rose. 

In  regard  to  the  relative  healtli  of  East  and  West,  I 
may  state  here  as  the  result  of  many  years  of  observation 
and  exiDcrience,  that  in  the  main,  neither  region  has  any 
perceptible  advantage  over  the  other. 

In  clioosing  a  home,  I  did  not  lose  sight  of  a  purpose 
which  I  had  always  entertained  of  having  it  near  a  body 
of  water.  No  other  advantage  of  beauty  can  compensate 
for  the  loss  of  a  water  view.  The  angry  tumult  amid  the 
storms  I  do  not  so  much  admire  ;  but  the  calm  serenity 
at  the  twilight  hour,  esj^ecially  in  the  golden  October 
days,  imparts  a  serenity  of  mind  whicli  exerts  a  lasting 
and  beniiicent  influence  upon  all  the  aflfairs  of  life. 


16  MY   VINEYARD. 

One  pleasant  September  afternoon,  I  found  myself  in  a 
small  village  in  Northern  Ohio,  waiting  until  the  next 
morning  for  a  conveyance  to  take  me  to  some  relatives 
Avho  were  living  a  few  miles  away.  Rather  liking  the  ap- 
pearance of  the  country,  I  asked  the  landlord  if  any  farms 
were  for  sale  in  the  vicinity. 

"  How  large  a  farm  do  you  want  ?" 

"  Only  a  small  one  of  about  forty  acres." 

"  Wall,  there's  plenty  of  farms  for  sale,  but  you  don't 
find  many  of  that  size.  Guess  Smith  down  "on  the  shore 
has  one  that'll  about  suit  you." 

So  I  obtained  the  requisite  directions  for  finding  Smith, 
down  on  the  shore,  and  set  out  to  find  him.  A  mile  walk 
brought  me  to  a  place  answering  to  the  description. 

I  was  fortunate  in  finding  Mr.  Smith  at  home. 

"  Walk  in,  stranger,  and  have  a  chair,"  was  the  not  in- 
hospitable salutation. 

"  I  don't  wish  to  make  a  long  stop.  I  only  came  to 
look  at  your  place,  as  I  understand  you  want  to  sell?" 

"  I  reckon  I  wouldn't  refuse  if  I  could  get  my  price. 
Where  might  you  hail  from,  stranger  ?" 

"  Connecticut." 

"  Wall,  I  came  from  Southern  Injanny." 

"  How  long  have  you  been  here  ?" 

"  A  right  smart  spell — going  on  nigh  two  years." 

"  Don't  you  like  the  country  ?" 


MY   VINEYARD.  17 

*'  Yaas.     But  there's  no  use  always  staying  in  one  place. 
Setting  hens  never  get  fat." 

"  Which  way  do  you  want  to  go  ?" 

"  Out  to  IlHnoy." 

"  How  many  acres  have  you  here  ?" 

'•  I  bought  it  for  forty ;  but  the  point  running  into  the 
lake  on  the  west  side,  makes  it  a  little  more." 

We  went  out  to  look  at  the  farm.  The  land  gradually 
sloped  to  the  lake.  The  shore  Avas  high,  except  in  one 
place  where  it  dipped  dow-n  to  the  water's  edge.  The 
soil  was  mostly  a  clayey  loam.  Near  the  road  was  a 
small  portion  of  heavy  clay.  Towards  the  point  was  some 
loAver  land  with  black,  mucky  soil.  The  house  was  a  log- 
cabin  of  comfortable  size  and  appearance.  It  was  sur- 
rounded by  scattering  trees  of  large  size— mostly  oak  and 
chestnut.  An  effort  at  floAver-raising  was  visible  in  the 
front  yard.  A  vegetable  garden  exhibited  a  profusion  of 
luxuriant  weeds.  A  hovel  covered  with  straw  aftbrded 
shelter  for  a  cow  and  a  j^air  of  horses.  Some  pigs  and 
poultry  seemed  to  have  the  freedom  of  the  place.  A  Avil- 
derness  of  mingled  raspberry  and  blackberry  bushes 
clambered  over  a  portion  of  the  division  fence.  There 
were  a  few  peach  trees,  turf-bound,  but  appearing  vigorous. 
About  ten  acres  of  woods  occupied  the  western  side  of  the 
place,  and  extended  to  the  point.  There  w^ere  a  half  doz- 
en acres  of  meadow,  and  as  many  more  w^here  the  young 
wheat  was  just  making  its  appearance.  There  was  a  large 


18  ^lY    VINEYARD. 

piece  of  corn,  weedy,  but  bearing  a  1  ixuriant  crop,  part  of 
which  had  been  harvested. 

About  the  whole  place  there  was  a  pleasing  appearance 
of  prospective  contentment  and  enjoyment.  The  blue  wa- 
ters of  the  lake  stretched  away  as  far  as  the  eye  could 
reach.  A  few  sails  Avere  visible.  The  setting  sun  had 
changed  into  gold  the  few  clouds  which  were  lingering  on 
the  western  horizon.  Magnificent  shadows  were  creeping 
from  the  woods.  Trees  and  fields  yet  bore  the  rich  ver- 
dure of  summer.  Only  here  and  there  the  sassafras  and 
red  maple  had  put  on  the  rich  colors  of  autumn.  I  had 
found  a  home. 

It  was  but  the  work  of  a  moment  to  take  into  mind 
certain  improvements  which  must  be  made.  With  some 
repairs  the  house  would  do  for  the  present.  The  hovel 
must  be  reconstructed.  The  fences  were  to  be  rebuilt. 
But  I  did  not  dwell  long  on  future  plans. 

"  Do  you  raise  much  fruit  around  here  ?"  I  inquired. 

"No,  stranger;  it  don't  pay." 

"Do  peaches  do  well?" 

"  Splendid ;  just  plant  yer  trees,  and  a  right  smart 
chance  of  a  crop  comes  every  year." 

"  Are  there  many  apple  orchards  around  here  ?" 

"  Scarcely  none.  They  are  so  powerful  slow  in  bring- 
ing crops  that  people  don't  like  to  plant." 

"  How  much  is  land  worth  around  here  ?" 

"  Different  prices." 


MY    VINEYAKD.  19 

"  How  much  for  yours  ?" 

"  Twenty-five  dollars  an  acre." 

"  Free  from  incumbrance  ?" 

''  Mortgaged  for  five  hundred  dollars." 

"When  due?" 

"  Two  years  yet  to  come." 

"  I  will  take  the  place." 

Within  two  days  all  necessary  papers  were  (Jrawn,  and 
I  became  owner  of  the  farm.  I  paid  Mr.  Smith  five  hun- 
dred dollars  for  his  interest  in  the  place.  The  mortgage 
for  an  equal  amount  was  held  by  a  man  in  the  village. 
As  five  hundred  dollars  was  all  that  I  could  spare  from 
my  little  capital  of  a  thousand,  I  considered  it  fortunate 
that  a  part  of  the  purchase  price  could  remain  on  mort- 
gage. 

On  returning  home,  I  described  to  my  wife  as  fully  as 
possible  the  place  I  had  purchased.  "  We  shall  make  a 
beautiful  home  of  it,"  said  she.  I  asked  her  to  give  it  a 
name.  "  Lakeview,"  was  the  response.  And  by  this  name 
it  has  since  been  known  to  us  and  our  immediate  friends. 


MY    VINEYARD.  2l 


CHAPTER  IV. 

GETTING    SETTLED. 

The  middle  of  October  found  us  at  Lakeview  with  all 
our.  household  goods.  The  house  had  been  vacated  by 
Mr.  Smith,  and  he  was  already  on  his  way  to  Illinois. 
We  at  once  set  about  making  such  repairs  and  changes 
as  our  taste  suggested  or  our  means  allowed.  We  did 
not  propose  to  go  into  extensive  repairs.  But  a  few  im- 
provements seemed  desirable.  In  no  better  way  can  we 
give  a  strange  place  a  home-like  appearance,  than  by  put- 
ting forth  personal  effoi-ts  to  adapt  it  to  our  minds.  Ev- 
ery change,  which  increases  our  comforts,  brings  with  it 
a  new  attachment  to  home.  A  drop  of  oil  on  a  creaking 
hinge,  a  shaving  from  a  door  which  opens  with  difficulty, 
or  from  a  window-sash  wliich  one  can  hardly  lift,  and  a 
thousand  other  little  things  which  are  but  the  work  of  a 
moment,  will  often  add  more  to  the  enjoyments  of  home 
than  extensive  and  costly  repairs. 


22  MY    VINEYARD. 

OUR    HOUSE. 

We  liked  the  house  even  better  than  ^ve  had  anticipat- 
ed. Its  location  was  exactly  suited  to  our  minds.  About 
a  third  of  the  way  from  the  road  to  the  lake,  the  land 
swelled  into  a  gentle  knoll.  Scattered  in  nature's  pictur- 
esque way  were  some  twenty  native  trees,  so  far  apart  as 
not  to  cast  too  dense  a  shade  ;  and  in  the  midst  of  them, 
upon  the  crown  of  the  swell,  the  house  was  situated.  On 
the  first  floor  were  two  good-sized  rooms,  and  an  addition 
in  the  rear  furnished  a  buttery  and  a  wood-house,  the  lat- 
ter large  enough  for  a  stove  in  the  summer.  Above  were 
three  comfortable  sleeping-rooms.  The  house  faced  to- 
wards the  south,  and  the  front  door  opened  directly  into 
the  west-room,  which  was  by  far  the  pleasanter  of  the 
two.  It  contained  three  windows ;  the  front  looking 
across  the  meadow  towards  the  road ;  the  westerly  one 
looked  out  upon  the  woods,  but  these  were  so  broken  on 
the  left  as  to  reveal  glimpses  of  the  western  horizon ; 
while  the  remaining  window  afforded  a  fine  view  of  the 
lake  towards  the  north.  Not  least  among  the  attractions 
of  the  room  was  a  large,  old-fashioned  fire-place  in  the 
division  wall,  which  butted  ujd  against  a  corresponding 
one  in  the  adjacent  room.  I  have  always  had  a  fancy  for 
an  open  fire.  Nothing  so  cheerful  as  to  sit  beside  the 
glowing  embers  of  a  winter's  evening,  while  the  wild 
winds  are  making  merry  with  the  fleecy  snow,  and   call 


MY    VINEYARD.  23 

up  the  memories  of  other  days.  There  is  the  glowing  fire 
before  us,  and  the  noisy  wind  without,  but  they  seem  less 
real  than  the  memories  of  earlier  years.  Shadowy  in- 
deed, but  once  more  with  us,  the  boy  companions  of  the 
long  ago.  Over  the  hills  in  our  boyish  sport,  and  through 
the  groves  to  the  clear  waters  of  the  little  brook.  And 
the  old  school-house,  with  its  happy  hours,  and  its  irksome 
tasks,  and  its  rewards  for  truant  deeds.  And  the  old 
church  bell,  now  ringing  out  its  merry  peal,  and  now  toll- 
ing, tolling.  And  other  forms  are  seen,  venerable  ancl 
bowed  with  age ;  but  these  are  gone  to  the  other  shore, 
leaving  a  pang  which  time  does  not  effiice.  — 

"  This  shall  be  the  home-room,"  exclaimed  my  wife  on 
surveying  the  room  I  have  described ;  "  the  library,  and 
parlor,  and  sitting-room,  all  in  one.  Here  is  just  the  place 
for  the  book-case,  there  for  the  lounge,  and  the  walls  will 
accommodate  all  of  our  favorite  pictures.  And  this  cor- 
ner between  the  book  case  and  the  fire  looks  as  though 
designed  expressly  for  your  old  arm  chair."     And  to  this 

m 

ordering  of  the  "  home  room  "  I  did  not  in  the  least  de- 
mur. 

The  house  needed  but  few  repairs.  A  little  additional 
mortar  between  the  logs,  newly  papering  all  the  rooms 
and  painting  the  wood- work,  a  few  repairs  in  windows  and 
doors,  were  tasks  easily  performed,  and  we  were  comfort- 
ably and  cosily  settled  in  our  new  home.  Those  were 
happy  years  which  we  spent  in  the  old  log  house.     When 


24  MY    VINEYARD. 

the  foundation  logs  began  to  decay,  and  a  new  house  had 
to  be  built,  that  dearly  loved  home-room  was  copied  as 
closely  as  possible;  but  its  peculiar  air  of  comfort  and 
homeliness,  which  we  so  much  loved,  could  not  be  imitated 
in  the  more  costly  and  pretentious  structure.  I  have  often 
wondered  why  the  original  owner  of  the  place  and  builder 
of  the  house,  could  have  left  it.  He  must  have  been  a 
man  of  taste,  having  an  appreciation  of  the  beauties 
which  surrounded  him.  I  learned  that  necessity  did  not 
require  his  removal.  He  was  doubtless  governed,  as 
thousands  of  others  are  in  similar  cases,  by  the  hope  of 
bettering  his  fortune  in  some  more  promising  locality  fur- 
ther west. 

THE    BARN. 

The  structure  used  by  my  predecessors  for  the  protec- 
tion of  their  stock,  was  no  longer  of  any  value  for  that 
purpose.  To  put  up  a  substantial  building  with  the^  means 
I  had  at  hand,  was  altogether  out  of  the  question.  The 
only  alternative  was  to  adopt  the  plan  quite  common  in 
many  of  the  newer  portions  of  the  AVest,  of  putting  up  a 
hovel.  The  location  of  the  old  one  I  did  not  like,  being 
in  too  convenient  proximity  to  the  house.  A  new  site 
was  therefore  chosen  towards  the  east  side  of  the  farm, 
where  the  land  sloped  for  a  little  way  quite  abruptly,  and 
has  since  afforded  me  a  basement  stable  to  a  large  and 


MY   VINEYARD.  25 

substantial  barn.  To  aid  me  in  hurrying  forward  a  con- 
siderable amount  of  work  which  I  wanted  to  do  before 
the  approach  of  cold  weather,  I  secured  the  services  of  a 
hired  man  for  a  month,  at  $12.  (This  amount  looks  very- 
small  when  compared  with  the  price  paid  for  similar  help 
in  these  times.) 

The  first  work  was  to  tear  down  the  old  hovel.  Many 
of  the  rails  proved  to  be  sound  enough  to  use  in  building 
the  new  one.  But  what  pleased  me  more,  was  a  large 
pile  of  manure,  evidently  the  accumulation  of  years.  The 
Avestern  people  had  no  faith  in  that  material,  considering 
it  only  an  incumbrance  and  a  nuisance ;  but,  looking  upon 
it  with  my  New  England  notions,  fresh  and  undispelled, 
I  regarded  it  as  quite  a  treasure.  To  commence  the  struc- 
ture, four  posts,  with  crotched  upper  ends,  were  set  firmly 
in  the  ground,  in  the  form  of  a  parallelogram,  twenty 
feet  by  thirty.  Through  the  center,  a  supporting  ridge- 
pole was  placed.  Rails  were  then  laid  on,  forming  a  roof. 
Around  the  sides  and  ends,  rails  were  placed  close  to- 
gether in  an  upright  position,  being  set  in  the  ground  suf- 
ficiently deep  to  hold  them  in  place.  In  a  similar  manner 
a  shed  was  built  on  each  side  of  the  main  structure,  one 
with  a  partition  for  pigs  and  poultry,  and  the  other  for 
sheep  and  young  cattle.  Over  the  whole,  several  tons  of 
straw  were  then  placed.  Nothing  could  afford  better  pro- 
tection than  this  from  cold  aiid  frost ;  and  rain  found  its 

way  through  only  in  the  severest  storms.     This  structure, 

2 


26  MY    VINEYARD. 

SO  cheaply  and  easily  made,  served  me  all  the  purposes 
of  a  barn  for  four  years,  requiring  in  the  meantime  one 
renewal  of  straw. 

FENCES    AND    FENCING. 

The  fence  along  the  front  line  of  the  farm,  bordering 
the  street,  was  good.  The  division  fences  were  poor  and 
needed  re-building.  I  found,  on  inquiry,  that  the  owner  of 
a  farm  is  expected  to  build  half  of  each  division  fence  be- 
tween himself  and  his  neighbors.  Accordingly,  an  agree- 
ment was  entered  into  with  the  farmers  on  either  side  of 
me,  as  to  the  portions  of  division  fence  which  I  should 
build.  The  old  fence  was  taken  down  completely,  and 
such  rails  were  sorted  out  as  would  do  to  lay  again. 
When  the  farm  was  purchased,  there  was  a  fence,  nearly 
new,  dividing  it  into  two  parts.  This  fence  I  determined  to 
dispense  with,  and  use  the  rails  in  building  the  division 
fences.  It  furnished  all  that  was  necessary,  besides  hav- 
ing already  furnished  those  used  in  building  the  barn. 
Two  other  fences  were  also  built ;  one  inclosing  the  woods 
with  about  two  acres  of  cleared  land  for  a  pasture ;  the 
other  formed  a  yard  for  cattle  around  the  hovel. 

Most  farmers  would  have  disapproved  of  my  plan  of 
dispensing  with  the  di^dsion  fence  to  which  I  have  refer- 
red. Rather  than  take  one  away,  they  would  have  con- 
sidered additional  ones  desirable  or  altogether  indispen- 


MY    VINEYARD.  27 

sable.  The  prevalent  notions  in  regard  to  fencing,  I  think 
altogether  wrong.  The  capital  invested  in  fences  through- 
ont  the  agricultural  portions  of  the  Union,  is  enormous ; 
the  interest  on  the  investment  and  the  expenses  for  re- 
pairs being  very  large.  One-half  of  this  may  be  set  down 
as  so  much  needless  expense,  which  might  be  avoided  by 
a  proper  system  of  rotation  and  the  substitution  in  many 
localities  of  soiling  for  pasturage.  I  do  not  propose  to 
enter  into  a  full  discussion  of  this  subject,  but  consider  it 
well  worthy  the  attention  of  every  one  interested  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits. 

BUYING    STOCK. 

I  found  but  little  difficulty  in  purchasing  such  stock  as 
was  needed.  Before  commencing  work  on  the  hovel,  I 
had  bought  a  span  of  horses,  having  found  one  that  suited 
me  after  two  or  three  half  days'  search.  They  were  not 
particularly  elegant  in  appearance,  or  swift  of  foot,  but 
they  were  strong  in  build  and  kindly  in  disposition.  My 
success  in  this  purchase  was  a  mere  matter  of  luck,  my 
judgment  in  regard  to  the  qualities  of  horses  being  at 
that  time  decidedly  poor.  Of  one  thing,  however,  —  the 
disposition  of  a  horse  —  I  could  always  judge  with  a  con- 
siderable degree  of  accurncy.  A  vicious  man,  or  w^oman 
either,  for  that  matter,  may  sometimes  disguise  their 
character  under  the  mask  of  a  pleasant  smile,  or  a  smooth 


28  MY    VINEYARD. 

word ;  but  a  hor^e  cannot,  or  at  least  he  does  not,  practice 
such  deceptipn.  He  always  reveals  his  disposition  in  his 
eye. 

The  requirements  of  our  household  seemed  to  demand 
the  purchase  of  two  cows,  so  as  to  secure  a  continual  sup- 
ply of  milk,  there  behig  in  the  house  a  certain  brown- 
haired  boy  of  three  years,  who  was  possessed  of  a  firm 
notion  that  that  beverage  was  particularly  well  adapted 
to  his  wants.  There  Avere  plenty  of  cows  to  be  found 
who  were  to  come  in  in  the  succeeding  spring,  but  to  find 
one  who  would  give  milk  until  that  time,  was  the  difficul- 
ty. By  a  considerable  inquiry  and  search,  a  couple  of 
cows,  which  seemed  to  meet  our  Avants,  Avere  found  and 
jmrchased.  One  of  them,  red,  Avith  a  white  face  and  one 
Avhite  foot,  fortunately  the  one  Ave  most  needed,  being 
then  in  milk,  proA^ed  a  good  one.  The  other  Avas  a  brin- 
dle.  I  haA^e  often  Avondered  how  so  much  viciousness 
could  be  wrapped  up  in  so  small  a  hide.  She  would  kick 
with  the  most  unparalleled  A^ehemence,  on  the  least  provo- 
cation, and  Avithout  any  proA^ocation  at  all.  No  amount 
of  so-o-o-o-o  bossing,  or  other  gentle  words,  or  the  bland- 
est coaxing  seemed  to  haA^e  any  effect.  Nor  were  the 
gentle  persuasions  of  the  milking-stool,  vigorously  applied, 
in  any  respect  more  effectual.  What  object  she  had  in 
view,  if  any  object  there  were,*  in  making  these  aerial  ex- 
ploits, is  something  I  never  could  divine.     And  then  the 


MY   VINEYARD.  29 

look  of  calmness  and  resignation  which  she  continually 
wore,  was  more  remarkable  than  all  else.  The  physiog- 
nomy of  a  cow  is  not  easily  read. 

I  had  procured  some  pigs  and  poultry  by  special  con- 
tract with  Mr.  Smith.  They  took  to  the  new  apartments 
I  had  prepared  for  them  with  many  manifestations  of  ap- 
proval. I  was  particularly  pleased  with  the  air  of  wisdom 
which  one  of  the  old  hens  exhibited  as  she  conducted  her 
first  explorations.  Cocking  her  head  first  on  one  side  and 
then  on  the  other,  now  taking  a  step  forward  vrith  great 
caution,  and  again  halting  for  a  moment  on  one  leg,  she 
evidently  took  in  at  one  scope  the  whole  capacities  of  the 
place.  Hens  seldom  receive  the  credit  to  which  they  are 
justly  entitled.  Their  general  contentment  and  uncon- 
cern, and  their  manifest  belief  in  life  as  a  condition  par- 
ticularly well  fitted  to  their  enjoyment,  are  refreshing  to 
contemplate.  I  would  by  no  means  dispense  with  hens, 
even  though  they  were  not  in  the  habit  of  laying  eggs. 
It  is  a  real  enjoyment  to  go  out  of  a  sunny  morning  in 
early  spring,  and  Avatch  them  as  they  are  demurely  sun- 
ning themselves  on  the  south  side  of  the  barn.  First  one 
wing  is  stretched  out  to  bathe  in  the  warm  sunshine,  and 
then  the  other.  Now  perched  on  one  foot,  with  eyes 
closed  in  serene  contemplation,  and  now  nestled  in  the 
straw,  enjoying  a  quiet  doze.  A  profound  and  impressive 
silence  of  the  whole  congregation  is  succeeded  by  a  gen- 
eral couA^ersation.     "W^iat  they  are  talking  about  is  not 


30  MY    VINEYARD. 

easy  to  understand.  Probably  the  weather  receives  a  full 
discussion,  and  the  particularly  fine  qualities  of  the  sun- 
shine are  fully  commended.  Doubtless  the  conversation 
ultimately  degenerates  into  a  mere  discussion  of  the  size 
and  other  qualities  of  various  contemplated  broods  of 
chickens. 

In  addition  to  the  stock  already  mentioned,  I  purchased 
a  half  dozen  sheep,  at  twelve  shillings  a  head.  I  did  not 
procure  them  with  the  expectation  that  they  would  prove 
profitable,  but  from  a  mere  fancy  of  being  the  owner  of 
as  many  diflerent  kinds  of  stock  as  possible.  Rural  life 
presents  few  more  pleasing  pictures  than  a  clean  and  tidy 
farm-yard,  .where  all  kinds  of  stock  may  be  seen,  each  ex- 
hibiting the  utmost  contentment  and  enjoyment. 

Among  other  things  purchased  of  the  previous  occupant 
of  the  place,  were  three  or  four  tons  of  hay,  and  a  quan- 
tity of  corn,  besides  a  good  supply  of  corn  fodder.  This 
supply  of  food  was  sufiicient   for  the   stock   during  the 

winter. 

'* 

PLANS    FOR    FUTURE    OPERATIONS. 

Before  commencing  the  labor  of  making  a  shelter  for 
the  stock  subsequently  purchased,  I  had  a  general  notion 
of  a  plan  for  conducting  the  farm.  But  I  had  not  as  yet 
worked  it  out  in  detail.  So  I  set  about  that  task.  My 
purpose  was  to  make  fruit-growing  a  specialty,  believing 


MY    VINEYARD.  SI 

it  to  be  the  most  agreeable  part  of  agriculture,  and  best 
adapted  to  a  small  farm.  I  first  investigated  the  subject 
of  a  market  for  my  produce.  I  was  somewhat  disappoint- 
ed in  finding  that  there  was  scarcely  any  demand  for 
small  fruits  in  the  nearest  large  markets,  and  facilities  for 
sending  so  far  as  Chicago  were  very  poor.  At  the  East, 
fruit-growing  had  already  become  a  i^rofitable  branch  of 
business,  especially  in  the  vicinity  of  all  the  larger  places, 
and  on  such  thoroughfares  as  afforded  facilities  in  reaching 
the  princij^al  city  markets.  I  did  not  exactly  understand 
why  the  same  business  was  unprofitable  in  close  proximi- 
ty to  large  western  towns.  My  investigations  led  to  the 
belief  that  quality  of  soil  or  character  of  climate  offered 
no  adequate  explanation.  The  true  reason  in  the  case  I 
have  since  learned,  which  is  simply  this,  that  the  tastes  of 
the  people  at  that  time  were  such  that  very  few  of  the 
small  fruits  were  demanded.  And  why  ?  Because  the 
supply  had  been  so  small  and  perhaps  the  quality  so  poor 
that  people  had  not  learned  to  consider  them  necessary  or 
desirable.  Now  all  this  is  changed.  The  tastes  of  the 
people  have  become  educated.  The  increased  supply  has 
placed  them  within  the  reach  of  larger  numbers,  and  thus 
an  increased  demand  has  been  created. 

Seven  years  ago  the  growers  of  Grapes  on  Kelly's  Is- 
land, in  Lake  Erie,  could  scarcely  peddle  off  their  small 
crops  at  six  cents  a  pound  ;  this  year  they  have  sold  their 
crops,  amounting  to   a  thousand  tons  at  the  very  least, 


MY    VINEYARD. 


at  more  than  double  that  price,  and  that  too,  to  buy- 
ers who  took  them  at  their  vineyards.  The  law,  appli- 
cable to  a  certain  extent,  which  governs  the  demand  for 
grapes  and  other  fruits,  seems  to  be  this,  that  the  demand 
increases  as  the  supply  increases.  Even  now,  very  few  of 
the  smaUer  cities  and  villages  know"  any  thing  of  the  lux- 
uries of  the  small  fruits.  But  they  are  rapidly  learning, 
and  the  day  is  not  far  distant  when  every  village  in  the 
Union  will  receive,  through  the  express  or  otherwise,  its 
daily  supply  of  luscious  fruits,  during  their  respective 
seasons,  from  regions  where  they  can  be  successfully  and 
profitably  grown.  The  rapid  strides  which  the  business  of 
gi-ape-growing  has  made  within  the  last  few  years,  is  well 
illustrated  in  the  kind  and  quality  of  stock  which  nursery- 
men are  offering  to  the  public.  As  I  write,  the  advertise- 
ment of  a  single  nurseryman  lies  before  me,  in  which 
more  than  a  half  Tniilion  of  vines  are  offered  for  sale  ; 
fifteen  years  ago  it  is  probable  that  not  a  quarter  of  that 
amount  could  have  been  purchased  in  the  whole  Union. 
The  investigations  which  I  was  at  that  time  able  to 
make,  did  not  assure  me  of  the  safety  of  planting  small 
fruits  as  a  principal  feature  in  my  farming.  With  apples, 
the  result  was  difi'erent.  I  found  that  there  was  a  good 
market  for  them  in  the  vicinity,  and  that  in  the  nearest 
city,  about  twenty  miles  away,  the  demand  was  far  in  ex- 
cess of  the  supply.  I  also  observed  that  in  the  few  small 
orchards  which  had  been  planted  in  the  vicinity,  the  trees 


MY    VINEYARD.  33 

looked  vigorous  and  healthy,  and  that  the  few  which  had 
come  into  bearing,  bore  excellent  fruit  of  their  kind. 
Peaches,  wherever  planted,  succeeded  admirably,  bearing 
excellent  fruit  in  the  greatest  abundance.  Very  few 
attempts  were  made  to  find  a  market  for  them ;  and  from 
the  prices  which  they  brought,  I  concluded  that  my  friend 
Smith  was  quite  right  in  his  assertion  that  "  it  didn't 
pay."  I  found  that  wheat  and  corn,  Avith  a  small  amount 
of  stock,  were  depended  upon  as  the  marketable  crops. 
In  forming  any  plan  for  future  operations,  necessity  re- 
quired that  I  should  so  shape  it  as  to  allow  of  growing 
sufficient  crops  for  immediate  sale  the  first  year,  to  pay 
living  expenses.  My  capital  was  already  nearly  exhaust- 
ed in  the  purchases  I  had  made.  After  a  full  considera- 
tion of  the  subject,  taking  into  account  my  present  neces- 
sities and  future  prospects,  I  matured  a  plan  for  the  next 
year's  operations,  which  was  outlined  as  follows  : 

"  Use  the  wood  lot  as  a  pasture  for  the  cows  and  sheep. 

"  Plant  an  apple  orchard  of  eight  acres,  between  the 
wood  lot  and  road. 

"  Seed  down  the  six  acres  of  wheat  between  the  house 
and  road,  so  as  to  convert  it  into  a  lawn-meadow. 

"  A  half  acre  of  vegetable  garden,  south-east  of  the  house, 
and  adjoining  the  barn-yard  on  the  west. 

"  A  small  flower  garden  west  of  the  house,  so  as  to  be 
seen  from  the  western  window.     (This  part  of  the  plan 

was  made  by  my  wife.) 

2* 


34  MY  vixp:yard. 

"  Two  acres  for  a  fruit  garden  east  of  the  woods,  to  be 
worked  and  j^lanted  as  far  as  circumstances  will  permit. 
"  Ten  acres  of  corn  between  the  barn  and  lake." 

DEBT    AND    CREDIT. 

At  the  end  of  the  year,  as  is  my  invariable  custom,  I 
sat  down  and  examined  my  accounts,  so  as  to  determine 
my  exact  financial  condition.  Out  of  the  cajjital  I  had  at 
the  time  I  left  the  office,  there  remained  unexpended 
$138.00.  The  expense  of  getting  settled  in  our  new 
home,  aside  from  my  western  journey  in  search  of  a  farm, 
was  $560.00.     The  figures  were  as  follows : 

CASH.  .  DR. 

To  amount  on  leaving  office ■: $1305  00 

CR. 

By  paid  towards  farm , $500.00 

"  Expense  of  western  jourue}- 87.50 

"  Moving  family 79.30 

"  Span  of  horses  with  harness -. .  175.00 

*'  Two  cows 38.00 

"Sixsheep 9.00 

"  Pigs  and  poultry 10.00 

"  Hay  and  corn 25.00 

"  Lumber  wagon 68.00 

"  Farm  tools 61.95 

"  Hired  man,  one  month 12.00 

"  Household  supplies 58.00 

"  Miscellaneous 43.25 

''  Amount  on  hand , 138  00 

$1305.00 


MY   VINEYARD.  35 


CHAPTER  V. 

FIRST    EXPERIENCE. 

The  first  year  in  Lakeview  was  altogether  a  pleasant 
one.  Not  every  operation  was  successful,  or  every  expec- 
tation realized ;  but  the  general  results  of  the  year's  labor 
were  satisfactory  and  encouraging.  The  bright  sun  of 
early  spring  filled  the  home-room  with  its  cheering  rays, 
and  we  watched  his  setting  among  the  golden  clouds  be- 
yond the  AYOods,  giving  promise  of  an  abundant  year. 
The  birds  took  possession  of  the  trees  around  the  house, 
and  made  the  mornings  glad  with  the  sweetest  songs.  In 
the  woods,  the  Liver  leaf  rejoiced  at  the  new  life  which  the 
warming  sun  had  brought, — and  later,  the  sweet  Violet 
adorned  all  the  pathways  with  innocence  and  beauty.  The 
shadow  of  the  trees,  at  first  a  mere  lace-work  upon  the 
sunny  ground,  began  to  thicken  with  the  opening  buds. 
Gradually  the  leaves  unfolded  as  the  sun  grew  warmer, 
and  the  genial  spring  had  passed  into  the  maturer  sum- 


36  MY    VIXEYAED. 

mer.  Every  day  and  every  hour  of  labor  only  added  to 
our  love  of  our  rural  home.  Our  aspirations  did  not  reach 
for  grander  things  than  we  possessed,  but  being  contented 
with  our  lot,  we  enjoyed  the  liighest  degree  of  happiness. 

BOOK-FARMING. 

The  general  success  of  my  farming  operations  was  from 
the  first  greater  than  I  had  anticipated.  It  was  probably 
greater  than  most  persons  who  had  always  been  accustom- 
ed to  in-door  labor  would  liave  met  with.  This  success 
may  be  taken  as  an  illustration  of  the  success  of  book- 
farming.  I  had  studied  the  subject  more  or  less  atten- 
tively for  years,  and  had  secured  all  tlie  reliable  books  on 
agricultural  subjects  which  I  could  find.  When  com- 
mencing any  oj^eration,  I  read  carefully  all  my  books 
contained  upon  the  subject,  and  thus  availed  myself  of  the 
experience  of  others.  If  the  methods  pursued  by  others 
seemed  applicable  to  my  case,  I  adopted  them,  or  modified 
them  as  circumstances  seemed  to  dictate.  The  antipathy 
which  many  hold  against  book-farming  is  quite  uncalled 
for.  It  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  experience  and  practice 
are  without  value.  Tiiey  are  doubtless  of  more  value 
than  anything  which  can  be  gained  from  books.  But 
this  admission  does  not  satisfy  the  opponent  of  book- 
farming.  He  goes  farther,  and  considers  that  books  are 
useless  —  worse  than  useless.     They  teach  only  fanciful 


MY    VINEYARD.  37 

and  impracticable  things.  The  province  of  the  farmer  is  to 
work,  not  to  study ;  to  practice,  not  to  theorize.  Happi- 
ly these  groundless  and  injurious  notions  are  dying  out. 
Doubtless  our  Agricultural  Colleges,  when  they  have 
reached  their  full  working  condition  will  be  of  great  ser- 
vice in  hastening  their  dispersion.  But  just  now  much 
more  is  being  done  by  the  agricultural  publications.  And 
they,  too,  are  learning  something.  They  are  to-day  better 
than  a  few  years  ago.  They  are  taking  higher  and  more 
worthy  position.  They  are  beginning  to  employ  —  the 
best  of  them — talent  of  the  highest  merit,  and  are  doing 
a  work  of  incalculable  value  to  the  great  agricultural  in- 
terests of  the  nation.  There  is  no  business  or  profession 
in  which  intelligence  and  study,  and  careful  observation, 
in  short,  the  free  use  of  brains,  are  more  desirable  or  more 
advantageous  than  in  farming. 

PLANTING    AN    ORCHARD. 

In  this  record  I  do  not  propose  to  dwell  at  length  upon 
those  subjects  which  are  not  related  to  my  experience  in 
the  culture  of  the  grape.  I  have  given  a  sketch  of  my 
surroundings,  and  of  some  of  the  incidents  connected  with 
my  purchase  and  settlement  at  Lakeview,  that  the  reader 
may  have  a  fair  notion  of  my  preparation  for  the  branch 
of  farming  which  ultimately  became  ray  chief  occupation. 
Some  of  my  plans,  however,  were  worked   out  with  so 


38  MY    VINEYARD. 

much  success,  that  I  am  induced  to  give  them  in  the  hope 
that  they  may  be  of  benefit  to  those  whose  experience  has 
been  more  limited  than  mine.  Among  them  was  the 
planting  of  the  orchard.  The  first  thing  to  be  done  was 
to  secure  in  good  season  a  supply  of  trees.  My  method 
of  accomplishing  this  will  be  readily  understood  from  an 
order  to  a  nurseryman  of  good  reputation  then  located  at 
Toledo.  I  do  not  consider  it  a  model  of  a  business  letter, 
but  it  was  effectual  in  securing  trees  of  the  very  first 
quality. 

"  Your  circular,  stating  price  and  size  of  apple  trees,  is 
received.  I  am  desirous  of  obtaining  some  of  extra  quali- 
ty, and  will  pay  you  twenty-jive  per  cent,  in  addition  to 
the  usual  j^rice  if  you  will  send  just  the  trees  I  want.  In 
the  first  place,  I  want  them  as  uniform  in  size  (six  feet  in 
height)  as  it  is  possible  to  obtain;  and  secondly,  I  am 
desirous  of  obtaining  only  those  which  begin  to  branch 
near  the  ground ;  and  lastly,  I  wish  to  have  the  greatest 
care  taken  in  digging,  so  that  the  roots  may  be  in  the 
greatest  abundance,  and  as  little  injured  as  j^ossible. 
Please  also  give  the  roots  the  least  possible  exposure  to 
sun  and  air,  and  have  the  trees  packed  in  the  best  manner."" 
Then  followed  an  enumeration  of  varieties,  of  which  Bald- 
wins and  Rhode  Island  Greenings  constituted  seventy-five 
per  cent.  When  the  trees  came  to  hand  they  were  exactly 
suited  to  my  mind.     The  additional  price  paid  for  them 


MY   VINEYARD.  39 

Avas  an  investment  which,  no  doubt,  paid  me  several  hun- 
dred per  cent,  of  profit. 

Nurserymen  do  not,  indeed  they  can  not,  take  that 
pains  with  trees  that  they  ought  to  take,  as  long  as  peo- 
ple make  price  the  only  criterion  in  making  their  pur- 
chases. It  is  better  economy  to  get  good  trees,  wliich 
have  received  proper  care  and  kind  treatment,  even  at  a 
very  high  price,  than  to  get  poor  ones,  no  matter  how 
low  they  may  sell.  The  manner  in  which  I  have  seen 
stout  Irishmen,  with  a  muscular  develojDment  charming  to 
behold,  dig  up  fine  looking  trees,  and.  then  take  them  a 
mile  or  two  in  an  open  wagon,  with  roots  exposed  to  a 
burning  sun,  is  downright  vandalism.  Whenever  practi- 
cable, it  is  a  good  way  to  go  to  the  nursery  yourself  and 
pick  out  such  trees  or  plants  as  you  want,  and  then  pay 
an  extra  price  for  the  privilege  of  digging  them. 

The  soil  where  I  had  concluded  to  plant  my  orchard 
was  a  clayey  loam,  possessing  great  natural  strength.  It 
had  evidently  not  been  very  much  exhausted  by  cropj^ing. 
How  to  prepare  it  for  planting  was  a  question  somewhat 
difficult  to  decide.  I  was  at  a  loss  how  to  deal  with  the 
subject  of  sub-soiling.  I  had  seen  luxuriant  and  j^rofita- 
ble  orchards  in  ISTew  England  which  had  been  planted 
without  any  such  preparation  of  soil.  I  had,  however, 
seen  it  practiced  in  a  few  cases  with  evident  good  results. 
From  what  could  be  learned  from  books  and  agricultural 
publications,  and  from  the  theory  involved  in  the  prac- 


40  MY    YIXEYAKD. 

tice,  I  concluded  to  adopt  it.  Not  having  sufficient  team 
force  to  accomplish  the  work,  the  deficiency  Avas  supplied 
by  exchanging  work  with  a  neighboring  farmer.  The 
subject  of  drain nge  Avas  also  considered,  and  though  I  ar- 
rived at  the  conclusion  that  it  was  desirable,  and  would 
prove  a  .paying  investment,  my  means  required  that  it 
should  be  deferred  to  a  future  time.  The  neighborhood 
did  not  afford  a  single  sub-soil  plow,  nor  could  one  be 
procured  at  the  village.  I  was  therefore  obliged  to  have 
one  freighted  from  the  city. 

The  work  of  sub-soiling  was  accomplished  with  a  satis- 
factory degree  of  rapidity.  Neighbor  Williams  took  the 
lead  with  a  strong  yoke  of  oxen  and  heavy  plow,  turning 
a  narrow  furrow  of  about  ten  inches  in  depth.  He  was 
an  expert  plowman,  and  the  straight  furrows  which  he 
made  were  quite  in  accordance  with  my  notions.  I  fol- 
lowed with  the  sub-soiler,  stirring  the  soil  at  the  bottom 
of  the  furroAV  to  the  depth  of  six  inches.  Within  a  week 
the  labor  of  sub-soiling  was  accomplished.  The  piece  was 
afterwards  dragged  and  cross-dragged,  reducing  the  sur- 
face to  a  fine  tilth.  The  land  being  thus  prepared,  I  next 
staked  it  out  for  the  trees,  thirty-three  feet  in  each  direc- 
tion. The  utmost  pains  was  taken  to  secure  mathemati- 
cal accuracy. 

In  o]-der  to  secure  the  planting  of  the  trees  in  their 
right  places,  a  method  was  adopted  which  has  been  long 
in  vogue.     In  a  board  ten  feet  long,  a  notch  was  cut  in  the 


MY    VINEYARD.  41 

center,  and  one  in  each  end.  The  center  notch  being 
placed  around  the  stake,  which  indicated  the  place  for  the 
tree,  a  stake  was  driven  in  each  of  the  end  notches.  The 
center  stake  was  then  taken  away  and  the  hole  dug.  The 
board  being  replaced  with  the  end  notches  around  the 
end  stakes,  of  course  the  center  notch  indicated  just  where 
the  tree  ought  to  stand.  The  holes  were  dug  only  to  the 
depth  of  the  sub-soiling.  A  greater  depth  seemed  unad- 
visable,  as  the  sub-soil  was  somewhat  retentive,  and  might 
serve  as  a  receptacle  for  water  during  heavy  rains.  The 
holes  were  at  least  four  feet  in  diameter. 

As  soon  as  the  trees  arrived,  they  were  heeled  in  care- 
fully near  the  center  of  the  orchard.  The  holes  being 
dug,  everything  was  ready  for  planting.  I  had  learned  a 
lesson  upon  this  subject  years  before.  My  father  owned 
a  small  garden  of  about  half  an  acre  in  our  native  village. 
He  used  to  bestow  a  good  deal  of  care  and  labor  upon  it, 
and  among  other  things  had  a  few  trees.  On  one  occasion, 
being  called  away  on  business  to  a  place  eighteen  miles 
distant,  he  brought  home  with  him,  on  his  returning,  a 
number  of  trees,  among  tliem  a  Siberian  Crab,  thou  in 
full  bloom.  This  last  I  remember  very  well  of  helf)ing 
him  plant.  After  digging  the  hole  of  good  depth  and 
size,  he  filled  it  nearly  full  of  fine  surf  ice  soil.  He  then 
put  in  several  pails  of  water,  and  stirred  it  up  so  as  to 
make  a  thin  mortar.  In  this  he  placed  the  tree,  taking 
care  that  the  mortar  should  surround  even  the  smallest 


42  MY    VINEYARD. 

root  on  every  side.  Over  this  some  dry  dirt  was  then 
placed,  and  over  this  some  mulch.  Not  only  did  the  tree 
not  wilt,  or  loose  its  leaves  or  blossoms,  but  it  went  on 
as  though  it  had  not  been  disturbed  by  its  removal,  and 
actually  bore  a  full  crop  of  excellent  fruit  that  same  sea- 
son. For  fifteen  years,  and  I  know  not  how  much  longer, 
the  tree  remained  luxuriant  and  vigorous.  Concluding 
that  this  method  of  planting  was  a  good  one,  I  adopted 
it  as  a  guide  worthy  of  being  followed. 

A  supply  of  w\ater  was  obtained  without  much  difficul- 
ty, by  drawing  it  in  barrels  on  a  stone-boat.  The  trees 
and  water  being  at  hand,  I  proceeded  with  the  planting. 
In  the  holes  some  fine  surfiice  soil  was  first  23laced,  of  suf- 
ficient depth  to  bring  the  tree  a  little  deeper  than  it  had 
been  in  the  soil  where  it  grew.  The  dirt  in  the  center  of 
the  hole  was  made  a  little  higher  than  at  the  edges,  so 
that  the  roots,  when  spread  out,  should  slope  a  lit- 
tle downwards.  With  a  sharp  knife  such  roots  were 
cut  off  as  had  been  injured  in  digging,  leaving  a  clean, 
smooth  surface.  I  then  placed  the  tree  in  the  hole,  spread- 
ing out  the  roots  evenly  in  every  direction.  Some  of  the 
finest  surfiice  soil  was  then  thrown  on,  and  worked  down 
between  the  roots,  so  as  not  to  leave  any  vacant  places. 
A  little  more  dirt  was  added,  and  then  two  pails  of  water 
slowly  and  carefully  poured  on.  This  settled  the  soil 
completely  around  the  smallest  roots.  The  holes  were 
then  filled,  and  the  soil  pressed  down  with  the  foot.     As 


MY    VINEYAKD.  43 

often  as  two  rows  of  trees  were  set,  I  went  through  with 
a  load  of  i^artially  decayed  straw  from  the  old  hovel,  and 
gave  them  a  thorough  mulching. 

After  planting,  the  trees  were  cut  back  somewhat  se- 
verely. The  stems  were  trimmed  up  so  as  to  leave  the 
lower  limbs  as  nearly  as  possible  four  feet  from  the  ground. 
Ill  setting  the  trees,  the  heaviest  roots  were  turned  to- 
wards the  west,  so  as  to  guard  against  w^esterly  winds. 

I  may  here  briefly  relate  the  result  of  the  labor,  as  I 
shall  not  recur  to  it  again.  Not  one  of  the  trees  died. 
As  warm  weather  advanced  they  shot  into  a  vigorous 
growth.  They  have  been  pruned  but  sparingly,  and 
mostly  with  a  view^  of  keeping  the  heads  as  evenly  bal- 
anced as  possible.  The  trees  commenced  bearing  in  the 
fifth  year,  and  in  the  seventh  year  fruit  enough  was  sold 
to  pay  all  the  expenses  of  planting  and  for  the  land  on 
which  the  orchard  stood.  It  is  now  a  fine  looking  orchard. 
The  heads  are  well  shaped,  and  low  down,  thus  protecting 
them  in  a  good  degree  from  violent  winds,  and  greatly 
facilitating  the  harvesting  of  the  fruit. 

I  was  obliged  to  crop  the  orchard  the  first  year  to  corn, 
a  practice  which  is  altogether  objectionable  ;  but  a  liberal 
application  of  manure  rendered  it  less  injurious  than  it 
would  otherw^ise  have  been.  The  orchard  is  now  in  grass, 
furnishing  an  annual  crop  of  excellent  hay ;  but  full  re- 
turns are  made  in  stable  manure,  ashes  and  plaster. 

To  assist  me  in  mv  summer's  labor,  I  had  secured  the 


44  MY    VINEYARD. 

services  of  a  lad  about  fifteen  years  old,  the  son  of  a  neigh- 
boring farmer.  By  paying  the  father  all  the  wages  he 
demanded,  and  givhig  the  boy  an  extra  amount  besides, 
and  treating  him  with  kindness,  he  was  satisfied  and  con- 
tented, and  proved  to  be  very  valuable  help. 


A    GLANCE    AT    OTHER    THINGS. 

My  wife's  flower-garden  was  a  great  success.  She  took 
upon  herself  its  whole  care  and  management,  only  avail- 
ing herself  of  the  assistance  of  Harry,  the  hired  boy,  in 
performing  the  heavier  work.  Some  of  the  Balsams  and 
Asters  were  very  fine.  Because  they  Avere  more  attractive 
and  showy,  they  gave  much  satisfaction  to  our  neighbors, 
who  occasionally  dropped  in.  Still  these  flowers  were 
by  no  means  the  favorites  of  my  wife.  I  had  learned  this 
in  earlier  years,  when  she  and  I  were  young  together.  I 
was  in  the  habit  of  observing  such  things  from  a  notion 
that  the  flowers  which  the  softer  sex  admire,  may  be  tak- 
en as  an  index  of  their  tastes  and  disposition.  My  wife 
had  a  great  fondness  for  Sweet  Violets,  and  most  admira- 
bly did  she  succeed  Avith  them  by  keeping  them  mostly 
in  the  shade.  Day  after  day  was  our  tea-table  adorned 
with  a  little  bunch  of  these  flowers,  freshly  picked.  Near- 
ly every  pleasant  morning  my  Avife  might  be  seen,  Avitli 
gloves  and  trowel,  Avorking  among  the  floAvers;  and  there 


MY    VINEYARD.  45 

was  frequently  at  her  side  a  certain  brown  haired  boy, 
too  often  ready  to  volunteer  his  willing  but  not  altogeth- 
er judicious  assistance. 

But  I  will  pass  over  most  of  the  year's  experiences,  our 
butter-making,  our  planting  and  the  golden  harvest,  our 
sheep,  and  poultry,  and  pigs,  and  only  glance  at  the  re- 
sults. At  the  end  of  the  year,  after  paying  all  expenses, 
a  considerable  amount  yet  remained  from  the  sale  of  our 
surplus  wheat  and  corn.  It  was  laid  aside  as  a  beginning 
toward  the  payment  of  the  mortgage  upon  the  place. 
Thus  our  first  year  in  Lakeview  had  been  one  of  success. 


MY   VINEYARD.  47 


CHAPTER  VI. 

NEW    EXPERIENCES. 

The  second  and  third  year  passed  rapidly  by.  During 
this  time  I  learned  many  things,  and  unlearned  some 
which  I  thought  I  already  knew.  Some  of  my  enterprises 
had  proved  successful,  while  in  others  there  was  failure. 
On  the  whole,  there  had  been  progress  and  prosperity.  I 
had  made  many  improvements  in  the  place,  and  had  ad- 
ded somewhat  to  the  amount  of  stock.  In  the  fruit-garden 
but  little  progress  had  been  made,  only  currants  and  a 
few  strawberries  and  raspberries  having  been  planted. 
The  flower-garden  had  fared  better,  having  been  enriched 
with  a  good  collection  of  flowering  shrubs  and  hardy 
herbaceous  perennials,  obtained  partly  from  the  nursery, 
and  partly  by  exchanges  with  neighbors.  In  the  Avarm 
south  window  of  the  home  room,  many  luxuriant  and 
beautiful  plants  had  learned  to  make  themselves  at  home. 
Evergreens  of  various  kinds,  vigorous  and  healthful  from 


48  MY    VlJsTEYARI). 

the  care  they  received,  had  been  scattered  upon  the  lawn, 
and  in  appropriate  places  about  the  buiklings.  The 
brown-haired  boy  was  no  longer  alone.  Another  one, 
with  darker  eyes,  now  gathered  with  us  at  the  daily  board. 
Thus  the  years  passed  on,  bearing  with  them  satisfaction 
and  contentment.  Occasionally  there  were  dark  days, 
tinged  with  discouragement  and  melancholy ;  but  they 
passed  away,  and  the  next  morning's  sun  shone  as  cheeri- 
ly as  ever. 

A    VISIT    TO    HERMANN. 

Three  years  had  passed  since  we  were  sat  down  at  the 
door  of  the  old  log  house  at  Lakeview.  The  crops  of  the 
third  season  were  good,  and  promised  sufficient  returns 
to  clear  the  mortgage  from  the  house,  and  leave  a  small 
balance  besides.  So  we  thought  it  well  to  go  out  on  a 
little  journey  from  home,  and  see  what  was  doing  in  the 
busy  world  outside.  As  both  of  us  could  not  leave  at  the 
same  time,  it  was  arranged  that  I  should  go  first,  and  af- 
terwards my  wife.  For  myself,  I  chose  a  trip  to  the 
West.  Not  least  among  the  enjoyments  of  a. journey,  is 
the  pleasure  of  the  return  ;  home,  with  its  enjoyments  and 
its  contentment,  seems  all  the  dearer. 

Bob,  the  friend  and  companion  in  the  days  of  my 
apprenticeship,  had  become  connected  with  a  paper  in  a 
flourishing  town  in  Central  Missouri.  So  I  determined  to 
make  a  visit  to  him  one  of  the  features  of  my  journey. 


MY   VINEYARD.  49 

On  my  way  thither,  I  chanced  to  stop  for  a  little  while  in 
the  village  of  Hermann,  now  famous  for  its  vineyards  and 
wine.  I  was  much  pleased  with  what  I  saw  of  grape- 
growing,  and  made  up  my  mind  that  it  was  a  pleasant 
occupation.  Nearly  every  one  had  found  it  profitable, 
and  seemed  to  enjoy  it,  as  indeed  they  ought  with  such 
excellent  fruit  and  wine  always  at  hand.  I  investigated 
the  subject  with  care,  and  learned  what  I  could  of  the 
methods  of  culture.  Much  of  the  information  seemed 
conflicting,  and  the  talk  about  pruning  and  pinching,  of 
renewals  and  laterals,  of  canes  and  spurs,  was  difiicult  to 
comprehend  with  any  satisfactory  degree  of  clearness. 
The  trouble  was  my  almost  total  ignorance  of  the  subject. 
I  had  read  a  few  articles  in  the  papers  on  grape-growing, 
but  had  scarcely  thought  of  it  as  a  business  to  which  my 
farm  was  adapted.  The  soil  was  unlike  that  which,  seem- 
.ed  to  be  almost  universally  recommended,  and  so  far  as  I 
knew,  my  location  was  farther  north  than  any  in  which 
success  could  reasonably  be  expected.  At  that  time  the 
business  had  been  commenced,  with  good  promise  of  suc- 
cess, in  a  few  localities  similar  to  mine ;  but  I  did  not 
know  of  it.  From  what  I  saw  in  Hermann,  however,  I 
concluded  to  make  a  trial  of  grape-growing  on  a  small 
scale,  believing  that  if  the  grapes  would  not  sell,  I  could 
make  it  profitable  to  manufacture  them  into  wine.  At  all 
events,  I  would  commence  so  moderately  that  a  failure 

would  not  subject  me  to  any  great  inconvenience.     Up  to 
3 


50  MY   VINEYAEP. 

this  time,  I  had  scarcely  seen  any  thing  of  grape-growing. 
In  my  native  place  there  were  but  few  vines,  and  these 
were  not  successful  enough  to  attract  attention.  There 
was  hardly  any  branch  of  horticulture  or  agriculture  to 
which  I  was  so  little  fitted  by  my  studies,  experience,  or 
observation. 

When  my  fall's  work  was  finished,  and  the  long  v^dntoi- 
evenings  had  arrived,  I  took  down  my  files  of  papers,  and 
commenced  my  w^ork.  Running  my  eyes  over  tlie  index, 
I  turned  at  once  to  those  articles  which  had  any  thing  to 
say  on  the  subject  of  grapes.  My  books  (some  of  them 
were  old  English  ones)  were  also  consulted  in  the  same 
way.  The  result,  it  must  be  confessed,  did  not  leave  in 
my  mind  a  knowledge  of  the  subject  particularly  remark- 
able for  its  clearness.  So  far  as  I  knew  there  were  not, 
at  that  time,  any  reputable  works  on  Grape  Culture. 
Some  have  since  appeared,  and  particularly  a  most  excel- 
lent one,  by  A.  S.  Fuller. 

PLANTING    A    VINE. 

Early  in  the  succeeding  spring  my  first  experiment 
was  made  in  grape-growing.  The  place  chosen  was  in 
the  fruit-garden.  The  border  ran  east  and  west,  the  west 
end  butting  up  against  the  division  fence,  between  the 
garden  and  woods.  The  soil  was,  for  the  most  part, 
lighter  than  in  any  other  portion  of  the  farm.     Towards 


MY   VINEYARD.  51 

the  wood  there  was  a  considerable  admixturq  of  black 
soil,  abounding  largely  in  vegetable  matter.  "Trench 
deeply,  and  use  manure  in  abundance,"  was  the  notion 
left  in  my  mind  as  the  result  of  all  my  research  in  books 
and  papers.  So  all  that  border,  six  feet  by  seventy-two, 
was  hand-trenched  to  the  depth  of  two  and  a  half  feet,  in 
the  most  approved  manner.  Good,  well-rotted,  barn  ma- 
nure, equal  to  a  depth  of  six  inches,  on  the  whole  surface 
of  the  border,  was  thoroughly  mingled  in.  A  liberal  sup- 
ply of  wood  ashes  was  also  used.  I  had  procured,  through 
a  friend,  residing  near  one  of  the  eastern  nurseries,  twelve 
good  Clinton  vines,  two  years  old.  They  were  received 
in  good  condition,  and  were  carefully  planted,  six  feet 
apart,  early  in  May.  They  soon  put  forth  leaves  and 
branches,  and  appeared  vigorous  and  healthy.  During 
the  first  season,  not  knowing  exactly  how  much  or  how 
little  to  prune,  I  compromised  the  matter  by  allowing  the 
vines  to  take  their  own  course.  They  made  a  large 
growth,  and  were  green  when  the  frosts  arrived.  Those 
nearest  the  woods  did  not  appear  so  healthy  as  the  rest, 
and  had  made  a  much  smaller  growth. 

Fall  pruning  must  be  attended  to,  so  the  side  branches 
were  cut  away,  leaving  the  main  stem  two  feet  in  height. 
This  first  year's  treatment  of  the  vine  is  not  recommended 
as  one  worthy  of  being  followed.  The  object  here  is  to 
give  a  faithful  record  of  experience  ;  those  methods  which 
were  found  successful  will  be  described  farther  on. 


52  >[Y    VINEYARD. 

After  pruning,  the  vines  were  laid  down  and  covered 
with  straw.  In  the  spring  I  concluded  to  allow  two  canes 
to  each  vine,  and  to  keep  them  tied  to  stakes.  Accord- 
ingly, a  stout  stake  was  placed  at  each  plant.  Every  bud 
on  the  old  cane  produced  a  shoot.  All  but  the  lower  ones 
were  cut  away.  Those  left  grew  luxuriantly,  and  presently 
some  flower  clusters  appeared.  The  laterals  were  stopped 
after  making  a  foot's  growth.  But  others  pushed  out  to 
supply  their  places.  The  behavior  of  the  vines  was  alto- 
gether difierent  from  any  thing  which  had  been  anticipa- 
ted. They  could  not  be  brought  into  the  shape  I  thought 
necessary  and  desirable.  By  the  middle  of  the  season, 
the  vines  presented  an  inexpressible  jumble  of  leaves  and 
laterals,  large  fruit  and  small  fruit,  and  even  flowers.  In 
the  fall,  some  of  the  older  clusters  colored,  and  I  picked 
them  for  ripe  fruit.  It  was  any  thing  but  palatable.  I 
made  up  my  mind  that  grape-growing  at  Lakeview  could 
not  be  regarded  as  strikingly  successful. 

CONTINUED    EXPERIENCE. 

When  I  recalled  to  mind  the  appearance  of  the  vines  at 
Hermann,  and  then  considered  the  appearance  of  my  ONvn, 
I  concluded  that  there  must  be  some  difficulty  in  my  sys- 
tem of  grape  culture  which  I  did  not  understand.  I  ob- 
served that  the  luxuriance  of  the  Adnes  seemed  quite 
disproportioned  to  the  size  wliich  ought  to  be  maintained. 


MY   VINEYARD.  I  <? /         53  "  ^0/^1 

\      /p.  ^  ^  >,  V-- 

This  suggested  that  the  soil  of  the  border  ^va^^^#er  thair  C' 
it  ought  to  be.     The  vines  nearest  the  woods  made  Kut  r- 
little  growth,  and  appeared  unhealthy.     I  did  not  thin^~-''^^'-=-*^ 
that  the  slight  difference  in  the  quality  of  the  soil  would 
account  for  it.     It  seemed  more  reasonable  to  attribute  it 
to  the  fact  that  the  border  was  a  little  lower  at  that  end, 
and  the  soil  inclined  to  be  somewhat  wet. 

After  a  full  consideration  of  the  subject,  I  concluded  to 
continue  my  efforts  at  grape-growing,  making  something 
of  a  change  in  my  methods  and  practice,  with  the  hope 
that  better  results  might  be  reached.  I  concluded,  also, 
not  to  confine  myself  to  the  Clinton,  but  try  other  varie- 
ties which  were  receiving  commendation  in  various  por- 
tions of  the  country. 

In  order  to  determine  whether  the  dampness  of  the  soil 
made  the  difference  in  the  vines  already  establislied,  a 
main  drain  was  run  from  the  fruit-garden  to  the  lake,  and 
lateral  drains  put  in,  so  as  to  secure  the  perfect  drainage 
of  the  border.  The  natural  slope  of  the  land  was  such  as 
to  render  its  drainage  no  difficult  matter,  but  it  cost  a 
good  deal  of  trouble  to  procure  the  tile.  As  I  had  seen 
a  considerable  underdraining  before,  and  believed  in  it  on 
general  principles,  I  concluded  that  the  benefit  to  the 
fruit-garden  would  cancel  all  expense,  even  though  no 
good  came  of  it  so  far  as  the  grapes  were  concerned. 


54  MY   VINEYAKD. 

Early  next  spring,  a  border  was  made,  large  enough  for 
two  dozen  vines.  One  half  of  it  was  prepared  exactly  as 
I  had  prepared  the  first  one ;  the  other  half  was  trencK- 
spaded  to  the  depth  of  sixteen  inches.  The  subsoil  was 
not  brought  to  the  surface,  but  merely  loosened.  A  half 
dozen  j^lants  each  of  Catawbas,  Isabellas,  Concords,  and 
Clintons,  were  procured  and  planted  six  feet  by  eight,  in 
such  a  manner  that  one  half  of  each  kind  was  on  each  of 
the  two  differently  prepared  divisions  of  the  border.  The 
Clinton  was  included  in  the  experiment  so  as  to  give  it  a 
fairer  trial. 

It  will  not  be  necessary  to  give  a  detailed  statement  of 
all  the  steps  taken  in  carrying  forward  this  experiment. 
A  glance  at  the  results  will  be  sufficient.  They  were 
valuable  in  this,  that  they  served  as  a  guide  for  future  and 
successful  operations. 

During  the  first  year,  the  vines  made  a  good  growth. 
I  gave  them  pretty  much  their  own  com'se,  except  that 
they  were  kept  tied  up  to  stakes.  There  Avas  a  decided 
difference  in  the  appearance  of  the  vines  on  the  different 
portions  of  the  border,  those  on  the  manured  portion 
making  much  the  larger  and  more  luxuriant  growth.  The 
others,  however,  ripened  their  wood  much  more  thor- 
oughly. The  Clintons  on  the  old  border,  next  the  woods, 
appeared  more  healthy  than  during  the  previous  year. 
The  vines  on  the  new  border  were  pruned  back  to  two 
buds,  and  cuttings  made  of  all  the  well-ripened  v.ood. 


MY    VINEYARD.  55 

MORE    ENCOURAGING    RESULTS. 

During  the  next  year,  there  was  a  still  greater  differ, 
ence  in  the  comparative  luxuriance  of  the  two  lots  of 
vines.  The  same  method  of  pruning  was  jDursued  that 
had  been  attempted  on  the  first  Clintons.  On  the  unma- 
nured  border  I  met  with  pretty  good  success  with  all  the 
varieties  except  the  Clinton.  With  this  I  succeeded  bet- 
ter than  before,  but  the  results  were  nevertheless  any- 
thing but  satisfactory.  Next  to  the  Clinton,  the  Concord 
was  most  difficult  to  manage.  On  the  manured  portion,  1 
experienced  but  little  trouble  with  Isabellas  and  Cataw- 
bas ;  with  the  Concord  there  was  some  difficulty  ;  but  the 
Clinton  seemed  perfectly  incorrigible. 

All  of  the  vines  bore  fruit.  On  the  unmanured  border, 
the  fruit  was  reduced  to  one  bunch  on  each  cane;  the 
grapes  ripened  thoroughly,  were  of  good  flavor,  and  in 
every  way  equalled  my  expectations.  I  regarded  this  re- 
sult with  no  small  degree  of  satisfaction,  even  of  delight, 
because  I  looked  upon  it  as  an  indication  of  future  suc- 
cess. On  the  manured  border  tlie  vines  manifested  a  less 
disposition  to  fruit,  and  the  on^  bunch  allowed  to  each 
cane  did  not  ripen  so  thoroughly,  or  become  so  sweet  and 
palatable  as  those  on  the  other  border.  This  was  particu- 
larly the  case  with  the  Catawba.  The  benefit  to  the 
Clintons  on  the  old  border,  from  the  underdraining,  was 
more  marked  than  it  had  been  the  year  before. 


56  MY    VINEYARD. 

AERIVING    AT    A    CONCLUSION. 

On  carefully  summing  up  all  the  results,  the  conclusions 
arrived  at  were,  that  the  Clinton  was  not  a  desirable  grape 
for  my  locality ;  that  deep  trenching  and  a  heavy  applica- 
tion of  manure  Avas  not  only  unnecessary,  but  injurious  to 
the  production  of  graj^es  in  soil  like  mine ;  that  untler- 
draining  was  a  necessity  where  the  soil  inclined  to  be 
wet ;  and  that  the  Isabella  and  Catawba  were  the  most 
desirable  varieties.  Basing  a  plan  of  operations  upon 
these  conclusions,  I  proceeded  to  carry  it  into  practice. 
How  this  was  done,  and  the  results  which  came  of  it,  will 
be  recorded  in  the  succeeding  chapter. 

I  may  state  here  that  while  engaged  in  my  first  experi- 
ence in  grape  culture,  I  read  with  care  all  that  aj^peared 
in  the  papers  upon  the  subject,  being  now  better  able  to 
understand  what  was  said  than  I  had  been  before  having 
even  a  limited  practical  experience.  Conversation  was 
also  entered  into  with  any  person  I  chanced  to  meet  who 
had  any  knowledge  of  the  subject,  either  from  experience 
or  observation.  In  this  way  almost  as  much  was  added 
to  my  knowledge  of  grape  culture  as  had  been  done  by 
four  years'  of  experience. 


MY    VINEYARD.  57 


CHAPTER  VII. 

PLANTING    A    VINEYARD. 

DEFINITION    OF    TERMS. 

Before  commencing  a  record  of  my  experience  in  the 
planting  and  management  of  a  vineyard,  I  will  endeavor 
to  give  an  explanation  of  the  terms  used  in  talking  of 
vines,  that  will  be  plain  to  those  who  may  not  be  fully 
acquainted  with  them.  If  put  in  the  form  of  directions 
for  drawing  a  diagram  of  the  vine,  it  will  be  all  the  plain- 
er. With  paper  and  pencil  draw  a  horizontal  line  near 
the  bottom  of  the  sheet,  to  represent  the  surface  of  the 
ground.  Below  this  line,  proceeding  from  a  given  point, 
draw  a  few  irregular  lines,  to  represent  the  roots  of  a 
plant,  and  from  the  same  point  above,  draw  a  vertical  line, 
say  six  inches  long.  This  we  Avill  call  the  stem.  Every 
half  inch,  from  the  bottom  of  the  stem  to  the  top,  alter- 
nating from  one  side  to  the  other,  make  a  character  to 
represent  a  leaf.  The  place  where  a  leaf  joins  the  stem,  is 
3* 


58  MY   VINEYARD. 

called  the  axil  of  the  leaf.  On  the  side  of  the  stem,  di- 
rectly opposite  each  leaf,  draw  a  short  line  to  represent  a 
tendril.  In  the  axil  of  each  leaf,  make  a  large  dot  to  re- 
present a  hud.  As  the  vine  continues  its  growth,  these 
buds  will  throw  out  branches  which  will  be  exact  imita- 
tions of  the  stem  already  drawn,  with  tendrils,  leaves,  and 
buds.  These  branches  are  called  laterals.  When  young 
and  tender  they  may  easily  be  nipped  off  with  the  thumb 
and  finger,  which  is  GnWed  pinching.  The  stem  is  usually 
called  a  ca7te.  Sometimes,  and  especially  when  a  vine  is 
severely  j^runed,  branches  will  proceed  from  buds  formed 
at  other  places  around  the  joint  of  a  stem,  than  in  the  ax- 
ils of  leaves.     These  are  said  to  come  from  accessory  buds. 

SOIL    AND    ITS    PREPARATION. 

The  spot  chosen  for  the  vineyard,  one  acre  in  extent, 
was  on  the  east  side  of  the  farm,  and  near  the  lake.  The 
location  was  selected  more  on  account  of  the  facility  with 
which  it  might  be  underdrained  than  for  any  other  reason. 
The  high  shore  of  the  lake,  affording  suitable  outlets  for 
the  drains,  and  the  gentle  slope  of  the  land,  rendered  the 
drainage  a  comparatively  easy  task.  The  soil  was  a  clay- 
ey loam,  in  some  places  quite  heavy.  After  the  drainage 
had  been  completed,  (the  drains  being  twenty-four  feet 
apart)  a  moderate  coating  of  manure  was  applied,  as  it 
was  necessary  to  crop  the  vineyard  the  first  year.     This  is 


MY    VINEYARD.  59 

not  considered  as  a  desirable  practice,  but  my  limited 
means  required  it.  The  soil  was  prepared  by  plowing 
and  subsoiling,  in  the  same  manner  as  for  the  apple  or- 
chard. After  thoroughly  dragging,  all  w^as  ready  for 
setting  the  stakes.  To  accomplish  this,  a  stout  line  was 
stretched  across  the  field ;  on  this,  six  feet  apart,  short 
pieces  of  white  string  were  tied,  so  securely  as  not  to  slip 
along  the  line  in  either  direction.  This  served  as  a 
guide  for  setting  the  stakes,  and  greatly  facilitated  the 
operation,  besides  securing  accuracy.  My  own  woods 
furnished  a  partial  supply  of  stakes,  the  rest  being  pro- 
cured by  purchase.  They  were  eight  feet  long,  and  were 
set  two  feet  in  the  ground.  Holes  were  first  made  with 
a  crowbar,  and  the  stakes  then  driven  firmly  down  with  a 
maul.  When  one  row  was  set,  the  line  was  moved  six 
feet,  the  string  again  serving  as  a  guide.  On  the  acre  I 
set  thirty-four  rows  of  stakes,  thirty-four  in  the  row,  giv- 
ing place  for  one  thousand  one  hundred  and  fifty-six  vines. 
Every  thing  was  now  ready  for  planting. 

PLANTING    AND    FIRST    YEAR'S    CARE. 

The  cuttings  put  in  two  years  before  had  now  made 
strong  and  vigorous  plants.  As  there  were  not  enough 
of  them,  a  quantity  was  procured  from  a  nursery.  Those 
grown  myself  were  best.  Being  yet  in  doubt  as  to  which 
variety  would  prove  most  successful,  I  planted  two  hun- 


60  MY    VINEYARD. 

dred  Concords,  and  for  the  rest,  an  equal  number  of-  Ca- 
tawbas  and  Isabellas.  The  holes  were  dug  throughout  the 
Avhole  field,  on  the  south  side  of  the  stakes,  before  com- 
mencmg  to  plant.  They  were  about  ten  inches  deep,  and 
twenty-four  in  diameter,  and  dug  in  such  a  manner  as  to 
bring  the  stake  in  the  hole,  but  near  the  north  side.  Be- 
fore planting,  the  long,  sprangling  roots  were  shortened, 
so  that  none  of  tliem  were  more  than  fifteen  inches  in 
length.  The  steins  were  shortened  to  two  buds.  Fine 
surface  soil  Avas  placed  in  the  holes,  putting  it  a  little 
deejDcr  in  the  center  than  at  the  edges.  On  this  the  vine 
was  placed,  with  the  stem  three  inches  from  the  stake. 
The  roots  were  evenly  spread  out  in  all  directions,  and  as 
the  soil  was  highest  in  the  center  of  the  hole,  they  sloped 
somewhat  towards  the  outside.  Fine  soil  was  then 
thrown  on  and  worked  in  by  hand  among  the  roots.  The 
holes  were  then  filled,  and  the  soil  jDressed  down  with  the 
foot.  When  all  was  finished,  the  roots  at  the  base  of  the 
stem  were  about  three  inches  below  the  surface  of  the  soil. 
When  the  buds  had  started,  and  the  branches  had  be- 
come a  foot  long,  I  went  over  all  the  vines  and  cut  ofi"  the 
upper  branch  and  old  wood  down  to  the  lower  branch, 
where  the  latter  was  the  stronger  of  the  two.  When  the 
upper  one  was  very  much  the  more  A'igorous,  that  was 
left.  The  only  attention  giA^en  the  Aines  the  first  year 
Avas  to  keep  them  tied  up  to  the  stakes.  The  ground  Avas 
kept   clear  of  weeds,   the    first  crop  of  turnips  obtained 


MY    VINEYARD.  61 

more  than  paying  the  ex^^ense  of  cultivation.  A  few  of 
the  vines  died,  but  nearly  all  made  a  good  growth.  In  a 
few  instances  some  of  the  laterals  had  become  longer  than 
the  main  stem,  but  in  almost  every  case  the  main  stem 
was  large  and  well  developed  at  the  base.  Nearly  all  the 
,  vines  shed  their  leaves  before  the  arrival  of  frosts,  and  the 
wood  appeared  to  be  well  ripened.  About  the  middle  of 
]N"ovember  the  vines  were  cut  down  to  within  a  foot  of 
the  ground,  and  cuttings  made  of  such  wood  as  was  suita- 
ble for  that  purpose. 

GRAPE-GROWING    CONTAGIOUS. 

During  this,  my  first  year  of  j^lanting  grapes  to  any  ex- 
tent, several  of  my  neighbors  made  a  connnencement  in 
the  business.  The  different  branches  of  agriculture  and 
horticulture  may  be  considered  as  contagious.  This  ex- 
plains in  part  the  fact,  that  we  almost  always  find  the 
dififerent  branches  confined  to  specific  localities,  while 
there  are  other  localities,  equally  advantageous  as  regards 
soil,  climate,  and  market,  where  they  are  not  found.  Thus 
we  find  hop-yards,  peppermint  farms,  fruit  farms,  etc., 
clustered  in  little  circles  here  and  there,  throughout  the 
country.  I  had  caught  grape-growhig  at  Hermann  ;  my 
neighbors  were  taking  it  of  me.  At  this  I  was  not  a  little 
gratified,  believing  that  their  success  would  only  enhance 
my  own.     Hence  I  was  ready  to  give  any  information 


62  MY   VINEYARD. 

which  I  possessed,  and  to  allow  every  one  the  full  benefit 
of  my  experience. 

THE    SECOND    YEAR. 

In  the  spring  of  the  second  year,  I  rubbed  off  all  the 
buds  on  the  stem  which  were  within  six  inches  of  the 
ground.  Two  canes,  one  from  each  of  the  two  nearest 
buds  above  this,  were  allowed  to  grow.  They  were 
stopped  when  they  had  reached  the  height  of  the  stakes. 
The  laterals  were  stopped  when  they  had  reached  a  length 
of  a  foot,  and  again  stopped  after  every  one  or  two  addi- 
tional leaves.  One  bunch  of  fruit  was  allowed  to  each 
cane,  all  other  flower  clusters  being  taken  oif  as  they  ap- 
peared. The  soil  was  kept  mellow  and  free  from  weeds, 
the  horse  cultivator  being  easily  used,  as  the  vines  rowed 
both  ways.  Nearly  every  vine  produced  two  well  ripen- 
ed bunches  of  fruit.  Besides  using  all  we  wanted  in  the 
family,  and  ofiering  it  liberally  to  our  neighbors,  as  they 
came  in  to  see  our  progress  in  the  new  business,  four  hun- 
dred pounds  were  sold,  which  netted  about  twenty-five 
dollars.  They  were  sent  to  the  city,  and  sold  on  commis- 
sion. Grapes  from  other  localities  were  also  sent  to  the 
same  place  in  considerable  quantities,  but  the  demand  was 
fully  equal  to  the  sujDply.  I  judged  from  this  that  a  ready 
market  could  be  found  there  or  elsewhere,  for  all  the 
grapes  which  would  be  likely  to  be  grown  for  some  years 
to  come.     Should  the  result  prove  otherwise,  wine-making 


MY   VINEYARD.  63 

might  still  be  tried.     Hence  no  uneasiness  was  felt  about 
disposing  of  my  grapes  at  remunerative  prices. 

Some  difficulty  was  encountered  in  getting  the  grapes 
to  market,  for  want  of  suitable  boxes  in  which  to  ship 
them.  The  ordinary  grape  boxes,  now  so  common,  could 
not  then  be  procured  in  my  locality.  This  trouble  was 
overcome  by  making  crates  out  of  lath  and  boards.  Two 
boards,  twelve  by  eight  inches,  were  taken  for  the  ends  ; 
lath  were  nailed  on,  one  half  inch  apart,  to  make  the  bot- 
tom, top,  and  sides.  The  crates  were  two  feet  long,  and 
were  lined  with  stout  brown  paper.  In  them  the  grapes 
reached  the  market,  about  twenty-five  miles  by  rail,  in 
good  condition.  As  I  have  stated,  only  one  bunch  of 
grapes  was  allowed  on  each  cane.  Probably  double  this 
amount  might  have  been  grown  without  any  injury;  but 
being  desirous  of  obtaining  strong  vines,  I  determined 
not  to  defeat  the  object  by  over-cropping.  In  November 
the  canes  were  all  cut  down  to  two  buds  each. 


MAKING    PROGRESS. 

The  second  year  of  my  vineyard  had  now  drawn  to  a 
close.  The  labor  of  tending  had  been  much  less  than  J 
had  anticipated.  My  wife  frequently  went  out  of  her  own 
choice  and  assisted  at  the  pruning,  but  I  was  glad  to  see 
that  her  flowers  were  by  no  means  neglected.  The 
brown-haired  boy  was  also  on  hand,  freely  offering  his  as- 


64  MY    VINEYARD. 

sistance ;  but,  as  a  matter  of  caution,  his  pruning  exploits 
were  confined  to  wood  which  had  ah-eady  been  taken 
from  the  vine. 

Lakeview,  at  least  its  occupants  thought  so,  was  increas- 
ing in  attractiveness  and  beauty.  The  evergreens  were 
growing  rapidly,  and  the  occasional  use  of  the  pruning 
shears  was  efiectual  in  producing  symmetrical  forms. 
The  apple  orchard  had  become  all  that  could  reasonably 
be  expected,  and  the  little  collection  of  strawberries, 
blackberries,  raspberries,  and  currants,  offered  its  bounty 
of  delicious  fruits.  The  stock  had  increased  in  amount, 
besides  having  brought  a  small  revenue  from  some  which 
had  been  sold.  A  frame  barn,  suited  in  size  and  arrange- 
ment to  th3  extent  of  the  firm,  had  been  built.  Our  ex- 
penses were  less  than  our  receipts.  We  were  not  grow- 
ing rich,  but  as  we  felt  that  every  reasonable  want  was 
gratified,  it  took  no  effort  to  make  ourselves  contented 
with  our  lot. 

THE    THIRD    YEAR. 

The  next  year,  four  canes  were  i)roduced  on  each  vine, 
one  from  each  of  the  four  buds  left  at  the  last  season's 
IM-uning.  The  canes  were  stopped  at  the  top  of  the  stakes, 
and  the  lateral  received  the  same  pruning  as  during  the 
previous  year.  Two  canes  were  allowed  to  fruit,  bearing 
three  bunches  each.  From  the  other  two  canes,  all  flower- 
clusters  were  removed  as  soon  as  they  made  their  appear- 


MY   VINEYAKD.  65 

ance.  The  grapes  were  sold  to  better  advantage  than 
those  of  the  previous  year,  the  crop  brmging  me  over  a 
hundred  doHars.  Deducting  all  exj^enses  of  tending,  and 
allowing  a  fair  interest  on  the  cost  of  tlie  vineyard,  I  found, 
that  even  this  return  was  more  profitable  than  any  other 
erop  which  could  have  been  raised.  The  fall  pruning  this 
year  consisted  in  cutting  down  to  one  bud  the  two  canes 
which  had  fruited,  and  cutting  off  the  laterals  on  the  other 
two  within  an  inch  of  the  canes,  being  careful  not  to  in- 
jure the  buds  at  the  base.  Two  canes,  each  about  six 
feet  long,  were  thus  left  on  each  vine.  A  part  of  these  I 
laid  down  on  the  ground  and  threw  a  little  soil  over 
them ;  the  others  were  left  tied  to  the  stakes.  Since  the 
first  year,  when  the  dozen  Clintons  were  protected  with 
straw,  I  had  protected  only  a  small  part  of  the  vines,  and 
that  part  only  with  soil.  The  difference  between  those 
which  were  protected  and  those  which  were  not,  was  fre- 
quently imperceptible ;  but,  where  any  difierence  appear- 
ed, it  was  in  favor  of  the  protected  vines. 

THE  FOURTH  YEAR. 

The  next  spring,  as  soon  as  the  buds  began  to  swell, 
the  two  canes  were  securely  fastened  to  the  stakes.  Each 
cane  produced  ten  bunches  of  fruit,  two  from  each  of  the 
five  lower  branches.  The  branches  were  stopped  at  two 
leaves  beyond    the  second  bunch  of  fruit,   and  if  more 


66  MY    VIXEYARD. 

flower-clusters  appeared,  they  were  taken  off.  Two  new 
canes  were  produced  from  the  buds  left  for  that  purpose 
at  the  base  of  the  canes  cut  away  the  year  before.  Their 
treatment  was  the  same  as  that  already  described,  except 
no  fruit  was  allowed  to  grow. 

In  the  flxll,  there  were  four  canes  to  each  vine,  two  of 
them  grown  the  year  befoi'e  and  now  bearing  fruit ;  and 
two  others  grown  the  present  season.  Over  three  hundred 
and  fifty  dollars  worth  of  grapes  were  sold  from  this  acre 
of  vines,  besides  which  a  half  barrel  of  wine  w^as  made 
by  means  of  a  small  press,  extemporized  for  the  purpose. 
The  fall  pruning  consisted  in  cutting  down  to  the  last 
bud  the  two  canes  which  had  borne  fruit,  leaving  the  other 
two  for  next  year's  crop.  The  vineyard  w^as  now  fully 
established. 

OBVIATING    A    DIFFICULTY. 

One  difficulty,  however,  presented  itself.  The  four 
canes  to  a  single  stake  were  so  crowded  as  to  interfere 
with  pruning,  and  what  was  a  still  greater  objection, 
some  of  the  leaves  shaded  others  so  mucli  that  the  latter 
could  not  perform  their  proper  work.  This  trouble  was 
remedied  in  the  following  manner :  —  I  obtained  from  a 
saw-mill,  where  they  had  a  buzz  saw  for  making  lath,  a 
quantity  of  slats,  about  inch  by  inch,  and  nine  and  a  half 
feet  long.  These  slats  were  fastened  to  the  stakes  with  a 
six-penny  nail,  one  end  of  each  slat  at  the  bottom  of  a 


MY    VINEYARD.  67 

stake  and  the  other  end  at  the  top  of  the  next  stake.  To 
these  slats  the  growing  canes  were  fastened  during  the 
next  year,  one  to  each,  while  the  two  fruitirig  canes  were 
fastened  to  the  upright  stake.  By  this  means  the  pruning 
became  an  easy  task,  and  could  be  performed  with  the  ut- 
most rapidity,  while  there  was  an  abundant  exposure  to 
sun  and  light  of  all  the  leaves,  both  on  fruiting  and  grow- 
ing canes.  The  system  of  pruning,  already  described, 
was  not  changed  —  the  use  of  the  slats  simply  obviating 
the  difficulty  already  mentioned,  the  crowding  of  too 
many  canes  upon  one  stake.  * 

THE    FIFTH    YEAR. 

During  the  fifth  year  the  vineyard  had  come  into  full 
bearing.  Many  of  the  canes  produced  twenty-five  bunches 
of  grapes,  some  of  the  upper  branches  bearing  three 
bunches  each.  This  gave  fifty  bunches  to  the  vine.  Of 
course,  all  of  the  vines  did  not  produce  this  number.  I 
did  not  keep  an  exact  account  of  the  j^roduct  of  the  vine- 
yard, as  other  vines,  subsequently  planted,  had  com- 
menced to  bear,  and  no  separate  account  of  the  fruit  was 
kept.  There  must  have  been,  however,  a  clean  profit  of 
at  least  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  on  this  one  acre 
of  vine.  The  yield  of  fruit  did  not  fall  short  of  nine  thous- 
and pounds ;  but  all  of  it  was  not  suitable  for  packing,  as 


*  A  cut,  showing  the  appearance  of  vines  trained  on  this  method,  is  elsewhere 
given  and  explained. 


68  MY    VINEYARD. 

only  large  and  perfect  bunches  were  used  for  this  purpose. 
The  rest  of  the  crop,  after  picking  the  table  grapes,  was 
made  into  wine.  One  of  my  neighbors,  who  was  the  first 
to  follow  me  in  the  grape  business,  and  who  had  more 
capital  and  perhaps  a  little  more  enterprise  than  myself, 
had  built  a  Avine  press  and  a  small  wine  cellar.  He  made 
his  entire  crop  into  wine,  but  I  found  it  more  profitable 
to  pack  such  of  mine  as  were  suitable  for  that  purpose. 
My  wine  grapes  were  worked  up  at  his  establishment,  on 
shares. 

ACTS    AND    FIGURES. 

At  the  present  writing,  I  have  five  acres  of  vines  in  full 
bearing.  It  would  be  quite  difficult  to  give  a  statement 
of  the  profits  of  the  crop  which  would  be  accurate  to  the 
nearest  cent,  but  the  following  figures,  in  round  numbers, 
are  within  a  few  dollars  of  accuracy.  No  separate  ac- 
count has  been  kept  of  the  labor  bestowed  uj^on  the  vine- 
yard, it  having  been  performed  along  with  the  other  farm 
work  as  necessity  required.  After  a  vineyard  is  establish- 
ed, it  is  a  pretty  accurate  calculation  that  five  acres  Avill 
require  the  labor  of  one  man,  with  some  extra  assistance  at 
picking  time,  and  perhaps  a  little  at  the  summer  pruning. 

The  figures  given,  are  for  1865.  It  will  be  seen  that 
the  grapes  are  credited  at  ten  cents  per  pound,  but  many 
of  the  Catawbas  sold  for  t^velve  and  a  half  cents.  No 
account  is  made  of  the  wood  cut  away  at  the  fall  prun- 


MY    YINEYAED.  69 

ing,  which  is  just  now  of  some  considerable  value.  Most 
of  it  has  been  sold  for  cuttings.  I  have  also  derived  con- 
siderable profit  from  the  sale  of  plants,  grown  from  cut- 
tings, at  little  trouble  or  expense. 

The  yield  per  acre  is  perhaps  a  fair  average  one,  where 
the  crop  is  not  injured  by  rot  or  mildew,  as  has  been  the 
case  in  many  vineyards  the  past  season.  I  have  known  a 
small  vineyard  to  return  its  owner  at  the  rate  of  over  two 
tliousand  dollars  j^er  acre.  This  is,  of  course,  an  extreme 
case 

VINEYARD   OF   FlYE  ACRES.  Dr. 

To  interest  on  cost,  10  per  cent,  on  8400  per  acre., $  200  00 

"  wages  of  one  man,  a  year 500  00 

"  extra  help  in  piclcing 200  00 

"  boxing-  5000  lbs.  per  acre,  at  1  cent 250  00 

Cr. 

By  5000  lbs.  Table  Grapes,  per  acre  at  10  cts $2,500  00 

"  3000  lbs.  Wine        "  "        •       5  cts 750  00 

Add  profits,  at  $420  per  acre 2,100  00 

$3,250  00    $3,250  00 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  foregoing,  that  my  experience 
in  Grape  Culture  has  been  a  successful  one.  To  many  it 
may  not  appear  large,  but  to  me,  it  is  quite  satisfactory. 
Indeed,  my  whole  experience  in  farming  has  been  so  grati- 
fying, that  I  feel  thankful  to  the  fortune  which  led  me  to 
take  up  my  abode  in  Lakeview. 


70  MY    VINEYARD. 

In  the  future  pages  of  this  work  I  shall  not  continue  to 
relate  my  experiences  in  the  order  of  their  occurrence, 
but  shall  combine  them  with  some  remarks  upon  the 
theories  of  Grape  Culture,  and  directions  for  its  practice. 
I  shall  hope  to  make  these  directions  so  plain  that  any, 
who  may  desire  to  turn  their  attention  to  Grape-growing, 
can  follow  them  to  a  satisfactory  success. 


MY   VINEYARD.  71 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

PROPAGATION    OF    THE    VINE. 

There  is  perhaps  no  plant  which  man  has  subjected  to 
cultivation,  more  easily  propagated  than  the  grape.  Five 
different  methods  can  be  pursued  with  success,  but  of 
these,  only  one  is  in  general  use  in  out-door  j^ropagation. 

1.  By  Seed. — This  method  of  propagation  is  used  only 
for  the  production  of  new  varieties.  It  receives  but  little 
attention,  because  of  the  uncertainty  of  its  results.  Of  a 
thousand  plants,  raised  in  this  way,  perhaps  not  one  will 
have  any  merits  superior  to  those  of  its  parent.  Never- 
theless, as  this  is  the  only  way  in  which  new  varieties  can 
be  obtained,  every  one  who  is  interested  in  Grape  Cul- 
ture, should  give  as  much  attention  to  it  as  circumstances 
will  permit.  There  is  already  a  large^  number  of  excel- 
lent varieties,  but  it  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  the  highest 
attainable  perfection  has  as  yet  been  reached. 


72  MY    VINEYARD. 

In  selecting  the  seed,  they  should  be  sound  and  thor- 
oughly ripened,  and  only  of  the  best  varieties.  It  would 
be  only  lost  time  to  take  seeds  from  wild  varieties,  as 
some  have  recommended.  It  would  be  like  going  back  to 
the  beginning  of  the  road,  when  you  are  alreadv  a  good 
piece  towards  the  end  of  the  journey. 

The  soil  in  the  bed  should  be  deeply  worked,  and  en- 
riched with  thoroughly  rotted  manure,  if  it  should  be  re- 
quired. Leaf  mould,  from  the  forest,  is  a  very  suitable 
manure  for  this  purpose.  The  best  time  for  sowing  is  in 
the  fall.  The  drills  may  be  fifteen  inches  apart.  The  seed 
should  be  sowed  pretty  thickly,  and  covered  about  a  half 
inch  deep.  In  the  spring,  when  the  plants  are  about 
three  inches  in  height,  they  should  be  thinned  to  three 
inches  apart  in  the  rows.  Brush  may  be  put  in  as  in 
brushing  peas,  for  the  vines  to  climb  up  on.  The  surface 
of  the  bed  should  now  be  thoroughly  mulched  with  coarse 
litter,  after  which  the  Adnes  will  require  no  further  care 
during  the  season. 

In  the  fall,  the  plants  may  be  dug  up  and  the  long  roots 
cut  off,  to  within  six  or  eight  inches  of  the  stem.  The 
stem  may  be  cut  back  to  two  buds.  The  plants  should  be 
carefully  heeled-in  for  the  winter,  and  the  soil  drawn  up 
around  the  stems  so  as  to  completely  cover  them. 

The  next  spring,  the  plants  may  be  put  out,  where  they 
are  to  grow.  They  should  be  in  rows  five  feet  apart,  and 
three  feet  apart  in  the  rows.     If  there  is  an  abundance 


MY   VINEYARD.  To 

of  room,  still  greater  distances  are  desirable.  A  stake 
must  be  placed  at  each  plant,  and  the  vines  kept  tied  as 
they  grow.  The  first  and  second  seasons,  it  is  better  to 
allow  only  one  cane  to  each  vine,  and  it  is  necessary  to 
keep  it  within  moderate  limits  by  pinching  in  the  later- 
als, and  stopping  the  main  cane  at  a  foot  or  two  beyond 
the  stake. 

During  the  third  and  fourth  years,  each  vine  may  pro- 
duce two  canes,  which  should  be  treated  like  those  of  the 
previous  years.  In  the  fourth  year,  and  occasionally  in 
the  third,  the  vines  will  begin  to  fruit.  This  will  enable 
you  to  judge  with  some  degree  of  accuracy  as  to  the  re- 
sult of  your  labor,  whether  it  is  all  lost,  or  whether  you 
have  obtained  a  new  variety  of  value.  Of  a  thousand 
plants,  perhaps  none  will  be  like  the  parent ;  probably 
many  will  be  inferior,  but  the  vast  majority  will 
doubtless  have  a  sura  total  of  qualities  which  make 
them  neither  better  nor  wor'se,  while  a  few  may  have 
some,  perhaps  all  of  their  qualities,  superior  to  those  of  the 
parent.  These  should  be  saved  for  further  trial,  while 
all  others  may  be  at  once  destroyed.  It  will  take  many 
years  to  determine  positively  as  to  the  quality  and  value 
of  a  new  variety. 

What  is  most  needed  just  at  the  present,  in  a  new  variety, 
is  the  combination  of  earli?iess  with  the  qualities  which 
many  of  our  best  varieties  already  possess.  Such  a  grape 
could  be  grown  farther  North  than  any  we  now  have,  and 


74  MY    VINEYARD. 

would  be  desirable  in  localities  where  the  crops  of  the 
present  varieties  are  occasionally  injured  by  early  frosts. 
Whether  or  not  the  lona,  which  has  been  produced  by 
great  labor,  and  which  now  promises  so  much,  will  sup- 
ply this  want  in  every  particular,  can  be  positively  de- 
termined only  by  still  farther  trial. 

2.  Layering.  —  There  is  no  method  of  propagation 
which  will  produce  so  strong  and  vigorous  plants,  as  lay- 
ering. To  produce  plants  by  this  method,  wood,  which 
is  either  one  year  old,  or  of  the  current  season's  growth, 
may  be  used.  About  the  first  of  July  select  a  shoot, 
which  is  strong  and  vigorous,  and  bend  it  down  to  the 
ground,  being  careful  that  the  curve  is  not  too  abrupt. 
At  the  point  where  the  cane  touches  the  ground,  cut  it 
about  h'alf  way  through,  from  the  upper  side,  with  a 
slanting  cut.  Dig  a  hole,  about  three  inches  deep,  and 
fasten  the  cane  into  it,  so  that  the  cut  shall  come  in  the 
bottom  of  the  hole.  A  hooked  stick  may  be  used  to 
fasten  down  with.  The  hole  may  now  be  filled,  and  the 
soil  pressed  down.  The  portion  of  the  cane  beyond  the 
point  layered,  may  be  tied  up  to  a  stake.  The  layer  will 
soon  throw  out  roots,  and  may  be  detached  from  the 
parent  plant  in  six  or  seven  weeks.  It  will  now  be  a 
strong  plant,  ready  to  set  out  where  it  is  to  grow. 
Should  it  be  set  out  early  enough  to  become  somewhat 
established  before  the  approach  of  winter,  it  would  prob- 
ably bear  fruit  the  next  season,  though  it  would  not  be 
desirable  for  it  to  do  so. 


MY    VINEYARD.  75 

3.  Cuttings. — This  is  perhaps  the  most  generally  avail- 
able of  all  the  methods,  and  may  be  practiced  by  every 
one  with  the  utmost  ease.  It  is  the  method  by  Avhich  I 
produced  all  the  plants  used  in  setting  my  vineyards,  ex- 
cept a  portion  of  those  on  the  first  acre.  Only  well  rip- 
ened wood,  which  may  be  known  by  its  firmness  of  tex- 
ture and  the  bright  lively  color  of  its  bark,  should  be 
used.  The  cuttings  should  be  prepared  in  the  fill.  The 
wood  may  be  cut  into  lengths  of  three  buds  each ;  the 
wood  being  cut  away  close  up  to  the  lower  bud  and  left 
about  an  inch  above  the  upper  one.  It  is  better  to  have 
the  wood,  where  it  is  cut  off,  slant  away  from  the  buds, 
rather  than  towards  them,  and  great  care  should  always 
be  taken  to  avoid  injuring  the  buds.  The  cuttings  may 
be  kept,  during  the  winter,  in  the  cellar,  laid  on  the  bot- 
tom and  covered  with  sand,  or  buried  out-doors  under  a 
slight  covering  of  soil,  and  jjrotected  with  straw  from  freez- 
ing. The  requisites  for  their  safe  keeping  are,  a  temper- 
ature as  cool  as  possible  without  freezing,  and  moisture 
without  an  excess  of  wet. 

The  cutting  bed  should  be  made  in  the  fall,  j)reparatory 
to  early  use  in  the  spring.  If  at  all  inclined  to  be  wet,  it 
should  be  underdrained.  The  soil  should  be  worked  to 
the  depth  of  sixteen  inches,  and  thoroughly  enriched  with 
perfectly  rotted  and  finely  pulverized  manure.  Leaf- 
mould  from  the  woods,  and  a  small  quantity  of  ashes,  can 
be   advantageously   added.     The   whole   bed   should    be 


7b  3IY    VINEYARD. 

thoroughly  worked  over,  so  as  to  be  uniform  m  composi- 
tion. 

In  the  spring,  as  soon  as  the  frosts  are  well  out  of  the 
way,  lay  off  the  bed  into  lines  fifteen  inches  apart.  With 
a  spade,  dig  trenches  ten  inches  deep,  one  side  of  which 
shall  be  smooth,  and  have  a  moderate  but  uniform  slope. 
Along  these  sloping  sides  the  cuttings  may  be  placed  six 
inches  apart,  in  such  a  manner  that  the  center  point  be- 
tween the  two  upper  buds  shall  be  at  the  surface  of  the 
ground,  after  which  the  trenches  are  to  be  filled  and  the 
soil  pressed  down.  The  whole  bed  may  now  be  mulched 
with  coarse  litter,  which  may  be  put  on  deep  enough  to 
come  up  to  the  upper  bud  of  the  cuttings.  If  the  soil  is 
dry  at  the  time  of  putting  the  cuttings  in,  it  may  be 
thoroughly  watered  before  mulching.  The  cuttings  will 
soon  strike  root,  and  the  stems  ought  to  make  a  growth 
of  from  three  to  five  feet  the  first  season.  If  left  to  them- 
selves, they  will  do  very  well ;  but  it  is  somewhat  better 
to  keep  the  plants  tied  up  to  stakes,  or  pea  brush  may  be 
put  in  for  them  to  climb  upon. 

There  are  numerous  other  methods  of  propagating  by 
cuttings,  but  the  one  just  described,  I  have  found  to  be 
most  successful.  Sometimes,  cuttings  of  only  two  buds 
are  used.  In  this  case  they  are  put  into  the  soil  so  deep- 
ly, that  the  upper  bud  is  covered  about  an  inch.  Where 
this  is  done,  the  upper  bud  not  only  produces  a  stem,  but 
roots  are  thrown  out   from   its  base.     In  this  way  fine 


M.Y    VINEYARD.  77 

plants  are  sometimes  produced.  Where  wood  is  very 
scarce,  this  method  is  desirable,  as  there  is  a  saving  of 
one-third. 

4.  Single  Buds. — Nearly  all  the  plants  sent  out  by 
nurserymen,  are  propagated  from  single  eyes.  This  meth- 
od requires  artificial  heat,  but  a  good  hot-bed  will  an- 
swer very  well  for  the  purpose.  The  wood  should  be 
selected  and  preserved  in  the  manner  already  described 
for  cuttings.  In  the  spring  the  wood  may  be  cut  up  into 
single  eyes,  leaving  it  about  half  an  inch  long  below  the 
bud,  and  three-quarters  of  an  inch  above.  At  both  ends 
the  wood  should  slant  from,  the  bud,  because,  when  pre- 
pared in  this  way,  the  bud  is  much  less  liable  to  be  injured. 

Instead  of  ordinary  soil  in  the  hot-bed,  use  shallow 
boxes,  about  three  inches^  deep,  filled  with  clean  white 
sand,  such  as  is  ordinarily  found  on  the  shores  of  lakes. 
Make^nes  across  the  boxes,  about  two  inches  apart. 
Along  these  lines  place  the  buds  in  a  slanting  position, 
and  deep  enough  so  as  to  be  covered  about  a  quarter  of 
an  inch  with  the  sand,  which  should  be  pressed  down 
firmly.  Care  should  be  taken  to  keep  the  top  of  the  buds 
towards  the  surface.  They  need  not  be  put  in  until  the 
first  or  second  week  in  March.  The  sand  should  be  kept 
moist. 

When  the  buds  have  thrown  out  roots,  and  the  shoots 
have  become  three  inches  long,  they  may  be  transplanted 
into  ordinary  soil  in  another  hot-bed.     They  should  re- 


78  MY    VIXEYARJJ. 

main  here  until  the  weather  is  warm  and  settled  out- 
doors, when  they  may  be  transferred  to  a  bed  prej^ared 
accordmg  to  the  directions  given  for  a  bed  for  cuttings. 
They  will  need  shade  if  the  sun  is  hot,  and  water  if  the  soil 
is  dry.  When  once  established,  they  should  receive  the 
same  treatment  as  cuttings,  started  in  the  open  ground. 

One  great  advantage  of  this  method  it  will  be  seen  at 
once,  is  the  greatest  economy  of  wood.  But  another  and 
greater  advantage  is  the  facility  with  which  many  vari- 
eties are  started,  that  can  be  multiplied  in  other  ways 
only  with  the  greatest  difficulty. 

5.  Grafting.  —  In  modern  times  the  grape  is  seldom 
l^ropagated  by  grafting.  The  process  is  not  a  very  dif- 
ficult one,  but  other  methods  are  so  much  more  available, 
that  there  is  little  advantage  in  employing  it.  Soine  va- 
rieties, as  the  Diana,  which  cannot  be  increased  ^oy  ordi- 
nary cuttings  in  the  open  ground,  can  be  readily  prop- 
agated by  grafting.  Nevertheless,  even  in  the  case  of 
these  varieties,  this  method  is  no  more  certain,  and  not 
nearly  so  available  as  that  of  single  buds,  or  eyes. 

The  only  method  of  grafting  in  which  I  have  had  any 
experience,  and  a  very  simple  and  effective  one,  is  one 
which  was  first  described  in  the  American  Agriculturist. 
A  vigorous  shoot  of  the  vine,  which  is  to  be  used  as  the 
stock,  is  bent  clown  and  fastened  into  a  hole  in  the  ground, 


MY   VINEYARD.  79 

in  the  same  manner  as  for  layering ;  only  instead  of  a 
notch  on  the  upper  side  of  the  cane,  make  a  slit  directly 
through  the  center  of  the  cane  from  top  to  bottom.  The 
slit  may  be  about  an  inch  in  length.  Select  good  strong 
cions,  which  should  have  two  buds  upon  them.  From  the 
lower  bud  downwards,  and  flat-ways  with  the  bud,  make 
the  cion  wedge  shape,  say  two  inches  in  length.  Cut 
the  cion  off,  about  two  inches  above  the  upper  bud.  Now 
take  the  cion  and  insert  it  into  the  slit,  up  to  the  lower 
bud.  The  hole  may  now  be  filled  with  soil,  leaving  the 
upper  bud  just  above  the  surface.  When  the  cion  has 
commenced  to  grow,  the  stock  may  be  cut  off  at  the  sur- 
face of  the  ground  beyond  the  graft.  Roots  will  soon  be 
thrown  out  from  the  cion,  at  its  junction  with  the  stock. 
The  grafting  may  be  performed  in  the  spring,  just  after 
the  sap  has  commenced  to  flow.  If  the  cions  have  been 
kept  in  the  cellar,  and  are  dormant  at  the  time  of  inser- 
tion, so  much  the  better. 

This  is,  in  reality,  a  modification  of  the  method  of 
propagating  by  cuttings.  But  many  varieties,  which  can 
not  be  increased  by  ordinary  cuttings,  may  be  easily  in- 
creased by  the  method  just  described.  Tlie  reason  is, 
that  the  cutting  is  supplied  with  abundance  of  food,  the 
sap  of  the  stock,  to  grow  upon  until  it  has  thrown  out 
roots  of  its  own. 

The  ancients  were  very  skillful  in  grafting  the  vine,  and 
employed  it,  very  extensively  as  a  means  of  propagation. 


80  MY    VINEYARD. 

It   is  probable  that  they   understood   the  art  in  all  its 
branches  much  better  than  we  of  modern  times. 

6.  Hybridization. — This  operation  is  employed  for  the 
purpose  of  producing  new  varieties.  It  consists  of  im- 
pregnating the  flowers  of  one  variety  with  the  pollen  of 
another,  in  the  hope  that  the  good  qualities  of  the  parents 
may  be  transmitted  to  the  ofispring.  Thus,  if  we  have 
one  variety  which  is  early  and  hardy,  but  the  quality 
poor,  and  another  variety  of  good  quality,  but  too  tender 
for  out-door  culture,  by  making  a  cross  between  the 
two,  we  may  get  a  new  variety  which  combines  the  good 
qualities  of  one  parent  with  the  hardiness  of  the  other. 
The  seed  of  the  fruit  which  results  from  the  flowers,  after 
receiving  the  cross  impregnation,  are  planted  and  fruited 
in  the  manner  described  under  the  head  of  23roj)agation 
by  seed. 


MY   VINEYARD.  81 


CHAPTER    IX. 


SOIL    AI^D    SITUATION. 

WIDE  ADAPTATION  OF  THE  GRAPE. 

The  grape  is  adapted  to  the  widest  diversity  of  soil, 
from  the  heaviest  clay  to  light  gravel.  I  have  seen  it 
growing,  in  its  wild  state,  on  the  most  rocky  and  rugged 
hill-sides  of  New  England,  and  in  the  deep,  alluvial  soils 
on  the  river  banks  of  the  West.  This  wide  adaptation  of 
the  grape,  in  its  cultivated  state,  is  doubtless  dependent 
to  a  considerable  extent  upon  the  variety,  the  manner  of 
preparing  the  soil,  and  the  mode  of  training.  And  yet, 
so  far  as  successful  cultivation  goes,  the  grape  is  confined 
to  certain  localities,  which  are  so  like  other  localities 
where  it  is  not  successful,  that  it  would  be  difficult  to 
point  out  the  difiTerence  which  causes  the  result.  For  in- 
stance, the  grape  may  be  successful  on  one  shore   of  a 

stream  or  lake,  while  on  the  opposite  side,  or  a  little  far- 
4* 


82  MY    VINEYAKD. 

ther  up  or  down  on  the  same  side,  it  may  succeed  but 
poorly,  or  not  at  all.  It  can  not  be  determined  with  cer- 
tainty, from  any  condition  of  soil,  or  climate,  or  exposure, 
whether  or  not  a  given  locality  is  adapted  to  the  grape ; 
it  can  be  known  positively  only  by  trial.  And  even  if  one 
variety  is  not  successful,  another  may  be  completely  so. 
The  Hartford  Prolific  is  not  highly  esteemed  in  Northern 
Ohio.  It  is  considered  a  good  grape  in  Pennsylvania,  but 
reaches  perfection  only  in  Missouri.  Location  has  such 
an  influence,  thata  variety  produced  in  one  locality  would 
hardly  be  recognized  as  the  same  grape  when  grown  in 
another  locality,  although  the  care  and  treatment  might 
have  been  the  same. 

The  grape  is  successfully  cultivated  from  Maine  to  Cal- 
ifornia ;  but  east  of  tlie  Kocky  Mountains  it  has  become 
a  prominent  business  only  in  a  comparatively  few  locali- 
ties, of  which  perhaps  the  most  prominent  are  Hermann, 
Cincinnati,  shore  and  islands  of  Lake  Erie,  and  Pleasant 
Valley,  in  New  York. 

LAKE    ERIE    GRAPE    REGION. 

In  the  Lake  Erie  region,  perhaps  the  most  successful 
vineyards  are  on  Kelly's  Island,  about  ten  miles  from  San- 
dusky. The  soil  is  a  clayey  loam,' somewhat  inclined  to 
be  heavy,  and  more  or  less  abounding  in  lime,  the  whole 
island  being  underlaid  with  limestone  rock.  It  is  only  a 
few  years  since  grape-growing  began  to  attract  the  atten- 


MY    VINEYARD.  83 

tion  of  the  islanders  as  a  profitable  business,  although 
grapes  have  been  grown  there  for  twenty  or  thirty  years. 
Six  or  seven  years  ago,  good  farming  land  was  worth  only 
from  twenty-five  to  forty  dollars  the  acre*;  now  the  same 
land,  if  adapted  to  grapes,  is  worth  from  five  to  six  hun- 
dred dollars  the  acre,  and  in  some  instances  has  sold  as 
high  as  seven  hundred  dollars.  It  will  be  seen  from  this 
that  the  profits  of  the  business  must  be  very  large  to 
warrant  the  payment  of  sucli  prices. 

Catawbas  and  Isabellas  are  about  the  only  varieties 
grown  on  the  Island.  Most  of  the  grapes  are  boxed,  and 
sent  to  Chicago,  Detroit,  and  other  large  cities,  and  even 
many  find  their  way  to  Cincinnati.  During  the  past  sea- 
son, the  grapes  have  been  selling  at  ten  cents  per  pound 
for  Isabellas,  and  twelve  and  a  half  for  Catawbas.  One 
cultivator  sold  from  a  half  acre  of  Isabellas,  six  hundred 
dollars  worth  of  table  grapes,  and  over  two  hundred  dol- 
lars worth  of  wine  grapes.  The  fruit,  however,  had  rip- 
ened remarkably  early,  a.nd  some  of  the  first  brought 
twenty-five  cents  per  pound. 

The  land  is  prepared  for  planting  by  ordinary  plowing. 
The  first  who  went  into  the  business  used  manure,  but 
they  have  now  abandoned  the  practice  as  worse  than  use- 
less. Undei'draining  is  generally  practiced.  Many  of  the 
drains  are  constructed  of  stone,  which  are  afibrded  by  the 
quarries  in  great  abundance.  The  vines  are  trained  to  the 
ordinary  post  and  wire  trellis.     The  surface  of  the  island 


84  MY    VINEYARD. 

is  level  and  smooth,  except  here  and  there  the  foundation 
rock  crops  out  above  the  surface. 

The  great  advantage  of  this  locality  is  the  influence  of 
the  lake.  The  ice  chills  the  air  in  the  spring  so  much  as 
to  keep  back  all  vegetation  until  danger  from  frosts  is 
past.  During  the  summer  the  water  becomes  warmed, 
and  at  the  approach  of  fall  gives  off  its  heat,  so  that  frosts 
are  kept  back  for  two  or  three  weeks.  The  long  warm 
autumns  which  thus  result,  are  exactly  adapted  to  ripening 
the  grape  in  its  greatest  perfection. 

All  along  the  southern  shore  of  the  lake  are  scores  of  lo- 
calities where  the  grape  has  been  found  to  succeed  admir- 
ably. While  ordinary  farms  are  worth  fifty  to  sixty  dol- 
lars per  acre,  good  grape  land  is  frequently  selling  for 
about  four  hundred  dollars.  It  is  probable  that  these 
prices  are  higher  than  the  profits  of  the  business  will  war- 
rant, especially  when  we  take  into  consideration  the  great 
rapidity  with  which  the  business  is  increasing. 

As  the  production  of  grapes  becomes  more  extensive, 
and  the  markets  are  fully  supplied,  it  can  hardly  be  ex- 
pected that  present  prices  will  be  maintained.  It  is 
claimed,  however,  that  the  amount  of  really  good  grape 
land  is  so  limited,  that  the  business  can  not  be  increased 
to  such  an  extent  as  to  materially  reduce  the  present  pro- 
fits. It  4s  to  be  hoped  that  this  is  not  the  case,  and  I  do 
not  think  it  is.     New  regions  where  the  grape  succeeds 


MY    VINEYARD.  85 

admirably  are  being  continually  discovered,  and  doubtless 
new  varieties  will  soon  make  their  appearence,  which  will 
be  successful  in  many  regions  where  the  present  varieties 
can  not  be  grown.  Grapes  can  be  grown  at  five  cents 
per  pound,  and  leave  a  reasonable  profit  at  that  rate. 
They  ought  to  be  grown  in  such  quantities  that  the  poor 
as  well  as  the  rich  can  have  them  in  the  greatest  abun- 
dance. 

PLEASANT  VALLEY  REGION. 

The  grape  region  of  Pleasant  Valley  [)resents  a  remark- 
able contrast  to  that  of  Kelly's  Island.  The  vineyards  here, 
instead  of  being  on  level  land,  are  on  the  steep  sides  of  • 
high  hills.  In  many  places  the  land  is  so  steep  that  horse 
cultivation  is  out  of  the  question.  The  soil,  too,  presents 
as  great  a  contrast.  Instead  of  clay,  we  find  an  exceed- 
ingly stony  soil,  in  some  places  appearing  as  though  made 
up  almost  entirely  of  small  stones,  fragments  of  slate  rock. 
The  best  of  the  vineyards  are  at  Hammondsport,  on  the 
sides  of  hills  whose  bases  are  washed  by  the  waters  of 
Crooked  Lake.  Land  on  these  steep  hill-sides,  which  was 
almost  worthless  before  the  introduction  of  grapes,  now 
commands  from  three  to  four  hundred  dollars  an  acre. 
Little  or  no  manure  is  used,  and  underdraining  is  practic- 
ed to  good  advantage  on  land  which  is  so  steep  as  to 
suggest  the  idea  that  it  could  be  of  no  possible  use.  Much 
of  the  land  is  terraced,  it  being  so  steep  that  it  could  not 


86  MY    VINEYARD. 

otherwise  be  worked.  The  ordinary  training  on  trellises 
is  employed.  Slats  are  frequently  used  in  place  of  wire. 
Most  of  the  grapes  are  shipped  to  New  York.  In  some 
vineyards  none  of  the  grapes  are  boxed,  all  being  made  in- 
to wine. 

Doubtless  the  stones,  which  are  found  so  abundantly  on 
the  surface  of  the  soil,  explain  to  some  extent  the  success 
of  grape-growing  in  this  region.  They  become  warmed 
by  the  sun,  and  the  heat  is  thrown  back  directly  upon  the 
vines  and  fruit,  hastening  the  process  of  ripening.  Re- 
taining their  heat  longer  than  ordinary  soil,  and  radiating 
it  slowly  by  night,  the  temperature  of  the  vineyard  through- 
out the  growing  season  is  higher  than  it  otherwise  would 
be.  Doubtless  the  water  on  the  lake,  as  well  as  the  slope 
of  the  land,  which  has  a  southern  and  south-eastern  ex- 
posure, also  exerts  a  beneficial  influence. 

As  the  result  of  my  observation  and  experience  in  re- 
gard to  soils,  I  conclude  that  moderately  heavy  clay, 
abounding  in  lime,  is  best,  but  that  the  grape  will  succeed 
in  almost  any  soil  when  other  things  are  favorable. 

IMPORTANCE  OF  SITUATION. 

On  the  other  hand,  I  consider  that  the  situation  is  the 
most  important  point  of  all.  Those  situations  will  be 
most  successful  where  the  seasons  are  prolonged  by  natural 
causes.  Thus,  at  Kelly's  Island,  and  along  the  south  shore 
of  the  lake,  the  seasons  are  prolonged  three  or  four  weeks 


MY    VINEYARD.  87 

by  the  influence  of  the  water;  while  at  Hammondsport 
equally  desirable  results  are  brought  about  by  the  increase 
of  temj^erature,  both  night  and  day,  from  the  character  of 
the  soil  and  the  aspect  of  the  surface.  A  similar  influence 
is  brought  about  in  an  artificial  way  by  underdraining. 
It  is  because  the  surplus  water  is  removed,  rendering  the 
soil  warm,  from  the  fact  that  evaporation  from  its  surface 
is  diminished,  that  underdraining  is  so  valuable  an  adjunct 
of  grape-growing. 

PROTECTION. 

Protection  of  the  vineyard  from  sweeping  winds  is  an- 
other consideration  worthy  of  attention.  My  own  vine- 
yard is  protected  from  westerly  winds  by  the  belt  of 
woods  on  the  west  side  of  the  farm,  ah-eady  referred  to. 
Success  will  be  met  with  in  many  localities  which  are  thus 
protected,  where  it  would  not  be  without  this  protection. 
In  such  places  as  are  not  protected  by  natural  belts  of 
timber,  artificial  ones  may  be  planted.  They  should  be 
composed  largely  of  evergreens,  and  only  a  few  years 
are  required  for  them  to  become  large  enougli  to  exert  a 
marked  beneficial  influence.  In  many  sections  of  the  West 
the  question  of  successful  fruit-growing  is  simply  one  of 
protection  from  sweeping  winds.  This  is  particularly  so 
on  the  Illinois  prairies,  where  they  now  grow  peaches  and 
other  fruits  in  great  abundance,  while  before  planting 
protecting  belts  of  evergreens,  they  could  not  be  grown  at 


88  MY    VINEYARD. 

all.  It  is  said  that  protection  makes  a  difference  of  some 
ten  degrees  in  temperature ;  but  this  is  not  its  greatest 
benefit,  because  at  the  same  degree,  the  injurious  effects 
of  cold  are  much  more  severe  when  the  wind  is  blowing, 
than  at  other  times. 


MY   VINEYARD. 


CHAPTER    X. 

PREPARATION    OF    SOILS. 

There  is  no  one  point  in  grape  culture  which  demands 
more  attention  than  the  preparation  of  the  soil.  The  first 
and  most  important  requirement  is  that  the  soil  should 
be  dry.  Whatever  mayWbe  the  case  with  the  wild  vine, 
those  which  are  in  cultivation,  will  not  succeed  in  wet 
places.  In  the  same  field,  within  ten  feet  of  each  other, 
I  have  seen  vines  of  the  same  age,  some  of  which 
were  luxuriant  and  loaded  with  fruit,  while  others  were 
dwarfed,  sickly  things,  without  any  signs  of  fruit  at 
all.  This  difference  was  caused  by  a  difference  in  the 
soil;  that  where  the  first  grew  being  dry  and  warm,  while 
the  others  were  in  a  boggy  place,  somewhat  wet,  but  not 
excessively  so.  The  cultivated  vine  will  not  live  in  any 
place  where  there  is  stagnant  water ;  nor  will  it  succeed 
in  any  soil  where  there  is  an  excess  of  moisture. 


90  MY   VINEYARD. 


UNDERDRAINING. 

Underdraiiring  may  be  considered  as  well  nigh  indis^ 
pensable,  and  I  have  yet  to  see  the  soil  which  it  would 
not  benefit,  so  far  as  grape  culture  is  concerned.  Its  ad- 
vantages consist  in  the  increased  temperature,  amounting 
to  ten  or  twelve  degrees,  which  it  gives  tlie  soil  by  rapid- 
ly carrying  off  all  surplus  water.  This  difference  in  tem- 
perature is,  in  many  regions,  the  difference  between  success 
and  failure.  The  drains  should  be  put  in  so  as  to  come 
between  rows,  and  not  directly  under  them.  They  ought 
not  to  be  less  than  three  feet  deep,  nor  more  than  twenty 
feet  apart,  unless  the  soil  is  naturally  very  dry. 

DEEP  TILLAGE. 

Another  requirement  is  that  the  soil  should  be  deeply 
worked.  The  chief  advantage  of  this  is  the  same  as  that 
derived  from  underdraining.  The  soil  being  open  and 
light,  the  water  passes  rapidly  through,  thus  preventing  a 
decrease  in  temperature  which  would  result.froni  its  evap- 
oration. Another  advantage  is  the  readiness  with  which 
the  roots  of  the  plants  penetrate  the  soil  in  all  directions. 
I  have  seen  some  vineyards,  quite  successful,  planted  on 
land  which  had  been  simply  plowed,  as  for  corn ;  but  it 
can  not  be  doubted  that  a  more  thorough  preparation 
would  have  produced  still  better  results. 


MY    VINEYARD.  91 

The  soil  should  be  plowed  and  subsoiled  to  the  depth 
of  at  least  sixteen  inches,  and  afterwards  thoroughly  cul- 
tivated or  dragged,  or  both,  until  well  pulverized.  Care 
must  be  taken  not  to  work  clayey  soil  when  at  all  wet. 

BORDERS. 

More  care  should  be  taken  in  the  preparation  of  a  bor- 
der for  grapes  in  the  garden,  than  for  ordinary  vineyards. 
The  same  attention  should  be  given  to  drainage,  but  the 
soil  should  be  worked  to  a  depth  of  two  and  a  half  feet. 
Old  and  well  rotted  manure  may  be  supplied  quite  liber- 
ally, as  the  grapes  are  supposed  to  be  for  table  use,  rather 
than  for  wine.  The  border  should  be  in  a  warm,  sunny 
locality,  well  protected  from  winds. .  If  the  grapes  can  be 
planted  along  the  south  side  of  a  wall,  but  at  least  a  foot 
from  it,  so  as  to  receive  the  influence  of  the  radiated  heat, 
they  will  thrive  finely. 


MY   VINEYAKD.  93 


CHAPTER    XI. 


MANURES. 

The  subject  of  manures  is  one  which  should  receive  the 
careful  attention  of  every  tiller  of  the  soil.  Success  in 
farming  is  very  often  dependent  upon  the  method  employ- 
ed in  saving  and  using  manures.  On  every  farm,  no  mat- 
ter how  small,  the  compost  heap  should  be  an  important 
feature.  It  may  be  managed  in  such  a  way  as  not  to  be 
in  the  least  offensive,  and  the  labor  bestowed  upon  it  will 
always  be  a  paying  investment.  The  way  in  which  many 
farmers  on  the  rich  prairie  lands  treat  their  manure,  re- 
garding it  as  a  worthless  nuisance,  and  allowing  it  to  go 
to  waste,  is  all  wrong.  The  consequences  of  this  course 
may  not  be  very  injurious  to  them,  but  it  must  be  to  their 
descendants.  It  is  folly  to  suppose  that  land,  however 
rich,  will  not  become  ultimately  exhausted  by  continual 
cropping.     For  myself,  I  am  careful  that  no  refuse  matter 


94  MY    VINEYARD. 

of  any  kind,  either  liquid  or  solid,  shall  go  to  waste.  My 
methods  of  composting  are  essentially  the  same  as  those 
described  in  the  works  on  agriculture,  and  in  the  agricul- 
tural and  horticultural  publications.  The  quantity  I  col- 
lect is  sufficient  to  afford  a  rich  feeding  to  my  vegetables, 
fruits  and  flowers,  besides  a  liberal  supply  for  the  lawn 
and  orchard. 

I  have  not  as  yet  found  it  necessary  to  use  manure  in 
the  vineyard ;  but  it  is  hardly  to  be  supposed  that  it  can 
yield  its  annual  tribute  of  fruit  without  an  ultimate  ex- 
haustion of  the  soil.  But  I  apprehend  the  grape  is  one  of 
the  least  exhaustive  of  crops.  The  chemical  constituents 
of  the  fruit,  which  is  made  up  largely  of  sugar  and  water, 
are  almost  entirely  found  in  the  atmosphere.  .  The  soil  is, 
therefore,  lightly  drawn  upon  in  the  production  of  fruit. 
With  ordinary  farm  crops  the-  case  is  different.  AYheat, 
corn,  and  meal,  abound  largely  in  phosphates,  which  the 
soil  can  alone  furnish.  Hence  these  crops  are  rapidly  ex- 
haustive, and  frequent  manuring  is  necessary  to  maintain 
the  fertility  of  tlie  soil. 

The  soil  of  the  vineyard,  however,  must  furnisli  all  the 
inorganic  constituents  of  the  wood*  of  the  vine.  If  this 
wood  be  taken  away,  and  no  return  made,  the  soil  must 
from  this  cause  be  gradually  exhausted.  This  explains 
the  reasons  for  the  benefits  which  are  said  to  arise  from 
manuring  the  vineyard  with  chopped  trimmings  and  cut- 


MY   VINEYARD.  95 

tings  taken  from  the  vines  by  pruning.  All  of  tlie  earthy 
constituents  of  the  soil  which  the  growing  plants  have 
taken  up  are  thus  returned  at  once.  It  is  probable,  how- 
ever, that  the  application  of  an  equivalent  amount  of  ashes 
would  be  fully  as  beneficial. 

Some  of  the  directions  given  for  tlie  preparation  of  a 
soil  suited  to  the  grape,  by  the  older  authors,  are  amusing 
if  not  instructive.  In  one  case,  after  enumerating  a  dozen 
ingredients  which  must  be  used,  the  author  slips  in  a  cau- 
tion against  having  any  of  them  deteriorated  by  an  admix- 
ture of  clay  !  In  many  instances  the  exactness  demanded 
in  the  preparation  of  the  soil  would  suffice  a  careful 
apothecary  in  the  compounding  of  the  most  difficult  medi- 
cines. 

If  the  soil  is  good  enough  to  raise  a  fiir  crop  of  Indian 
corn,  it  will  do  well  enough,  at  least  for  a  while,  without 
manure.  If  it  be  poorer  than  this,  it  must  be  manured 
until  its  fertility  has  reached  this  standard.  Only  the 
finest  and  most  thoroughly  rotted  manure  should  be  used, 
that  which  is  fresh  and  rank,  and  all  fermenting  substan- 
ces must  be  discarded.  Lime  and  ashes  are  valuable  fer- 
tilizers. 

It  should  be  remembered  that  any  excess  of  manure 
causes  an  undue  growth  of  wood,  and  prevents  fruiting. 
The  object  for  which  the  fruit  is  grown,  whether  for  table 
use  or  for  wine,  should  have  some  bearing  upon  the  sub- 


96  MY   VINfriTARD. 

ject.  If  for  the  table,  the  soil  may  be  somewhat  richer, 
with  a  corresponding  increase  in  the  vigor  of  the  wood, 
and,  to  some  extent,  in  the  size  of  the  fruit ;  but  where 
designed  for  wine,  the  saccharine  matter  of  the  fruit,  so  es- 
sential in  the  manufacture  of  good  wine,  is  more  largely 
produced  on  a  poorer  than  on  a  richer  soil. 


(97) 


MY   VINEYARD.  99 


CHAPTER  XII. 

PRUNING    AND    TRAINING. 

The  method  of  pruning  and  training  which  I  jDursued 
with  my  first  acre,  is  in  some  respects  superior  to  any- 
other  method.  It  is  very  simple,  and  easily  understood. 
No  method  could  be  better  in  those  localities  where  it  is 
necessary  or  desirable  to  lay  down  the  vines  for  winter 
protection.  It  will  be  seen  that  the  young  growing  canes 
can  be  supported  by  tying  at  any  point  of  their  growth, 
which  is  very  important.  With  ordinary  wire  trellises, 
tliis  is  not  the  case,  as  the  young  cane  has  to  grow  from 
one  wire  to  another  before  it  can  be  fastened.  In  most 
sections,  also,  this  method  is  less  expensive  than  where 
trellises  are  employed.  Another  advantage  is  tliat  the 
stakes  may  be  put  in  before  planting,  and  thus  used  to 
train  to  from  the  first.  In  other  methods,  stakes  have  to 
be  put  in  to  support  the  vines  until  old  enough  to  train  to 


100  MY    VINEYARD. 

the  trellises,  when  they  have  to  be  removed — all  of  which 
is  lost  labor. 

I  would  recommend  this  method  to  all  persons  unac- 
quainted with  grape-growing,  who  propose  to  plant  a  few 
vines.  It  is  doubtless  the  best  method  to  be  adopted  in 
trying  grapes  in  any  new  locality,  for  the  purpose  of  ascer- 
taining the  adaptation  of  the  locality  to  grape-growing. 

In  regard  to  this  matter  of  protection,  I  think  the  sub- 
ject deserves  more  attention  than  it  is  now  receiving.  In 
many  localities  good  crops  can  be  raised  by  simply  laying 
down  the  vines  and  covering  them  slightly  with  earth, 
where  they  could  not  be  raised  if  this  care  were  not  tak- 
en. And  in  other  localities,  where  the  vines  are  not  ap- 
parently injured  by  the  cold,  a  larger  and  better  crop  of 
fruit  will  frequently  be  obtained.  In  every  vineyard,  I 
think  it  would  be  a  desirable  practice  to  lay  do^\^l  a  few 
vines  every  year.  If  a  severe  winter  should  occur,  and 
kill  all  the  exposed  vines  down  to  the  ground,  as  at  Cin- 
cinnati a  year  or  two  ago,  the  i^rotected  vines  would 
afford  a  crop  which  would  sell  at  large  prices. 

Directions  for  training  may  be  concisely  given  as  fol- 
lows :  The  soil  should  be  prepared  by  draining,  j^lowing, 
subsoiling  and  staking,  and  the  vines  planted  as  already 
described.  During  the  first  season  let  only  one  cane  grow 
from  the  vine  planted,  and  this  should  be  from  the  lowest 
bud  that  starts.  Keep  the  vine  tied  to  the  stakes.  It 
should  receive  but  little  or  no  pinchmg.     The  object  for  the 


MY  vin:eyard.  101 

first  season  is  to  get  strong,  well  established  plants,  that 
is,  jDlants  with  an  abundance  of  roots ;  and  the  amount  of 
root  which  a  plant  makes  is  in  proportion  to  the  amount 
of  leaves  and  branches  above.  In  the  fall  cut  the  vines 
down  to  within  a  foot  of  the  ground. 

During  the  second  season  allow  two  canes  to  grow. 
These  should  be  from  the  two  lowest  buds  which  start 
with  vigor,  it  being  desirable  to  keep  the  stump  as  short 
as  possible,  so  as  to  facilitate  covering.  The  laterals  may 
be  pinched  when  a  foot  in  length,  and  again  after  every 
two  additional  leaves.  Each  cane  may  be  allowed  a  bunch 
of  fruit  without  any  injury.  In  the  fall,  cut  the  two  canes 
down  to  two  buds  each. 

During  the  third  season,  allow  four  canes  to  grow.  If 
any  accessory  buds  formed  a^ar  the  head  of  the  stump 
should  throw  out  vigorous  shoots,  t;ike  these  for  the  canes  ; 
if  this  should  not  be  the  case,  then  the  four  canes  can  be 
obtained  from  the  buds — two  on  each  of  the  last  years'  * 
canes — left  for  the  purpose.  Two  of  the  canes  may  be 
trained  to  the  stakes,  and  allowed  to  bear  two  or  three 
bunches  each  ;  the  other  two  canes  may  be  trained  to  the 
slats,  (which  should  have  been  put  on  in  the  spring.) 
^o  fruit  should  be  grown  on  these  last  two  canes.  In  the 
fall  cut  away  entirely  the  two  canes  which  have  fruited ; 
on  the  other  canes  shorten  in  the  laterals,  being  careful 
not  to  injure  the  buds  at  the  base.  These  two  canes  may 
be  laid   down  upon  the   ground,  and  a  little  dirt  thrown 


102  MY   VINEYARD. 

over  them.  Or  tliey  may  be  left  on  the  trellises,  if  protec- 
tion is  deemed  unnecessary. 

During  the  fourth  season,  two  new  canes  are  to  be 
grown,  which  will  doubtless  be  afforded  by  accessory 
buds.  These  are  to  be  trained  to  the  slats,  while  the  two 
canes  of  last  season  are  to  be  fastened  to  the  stakes  for 
fruiting.  Each  bud  will  probably  produce  a  fruit 
branch,  which  will  bear  from  three  to  five  bunches. 
These  branches  should  be  stopped  at  the  second  leaf  be- 
yond the  last  bunch  of  fruit.  It  is  better  not  to  allow 
more  than  about  twenty  bunches  of  fruit  to  a  cane.  The 
loss  in  the  number  of  bunches  will  be  more  than  made  up 
in  the  increased  size  and  superior  quality  of  those  which 
remain.  When  flower  clusters  are  to  be  removed,  it  should 
be  done  as  soon  as  they  ^ke  their  appearance,  as  the 
process  of  flowering  is  very  exhaustive  to  the  plant. 

The  fall  has  been  mentioned  as  the  proper  time  for  prun- 
ing. In  localities  where  the  winters  are  severe,  the  tips  or 
exposed  ends  of  vines  are  frequently  injured,  even  when 
the  remaining  parts  receive  no  apparent  harm.  For  tliis 
reason  the  canes  ought  not  to  be  cut  back  close  to  the  bud 
that  is  designed  to  grow,  as  by  so  doing  it  would  frequently 
be  destroyed.  It  is  better  to  leave  an  extra  blid  or  two, 
to  be  cut  away  in  the  spring,  after  the  severe  cold  of  win- 
ter is  passed.  By  this  means  the  buds  designed  to  grow 
are  left  vigorous  and  strong.  This  second  pruning,  or 
any  spring  pruning,  should  not  be  delayed  until  the  snp 


MY    VINEYARD.  103 

has  commenced  to  move,  as  it  flows  so  freely  from  the 
womid  as  to  seriously  injure  the  vine.  When  winter  pro- 
tection is  given  the  pruning  may  be  completed  in  the  fall. 

A  cut  is  given  at  the  beginning  of  this  chapter  showing 
the  appearance  of  two  vines  at  the  beginning  of  autumn. 
A  careful  inspection  will  give  a  clear  understanding,  if  the 
text  has  not  given  it,  of  the  mode  of  pruning  and  training. 
The  fall  pruning  consists  of  cutting  the  laterals  from  the 
canes  on  the  slats.  These  canes  are  to  bear  the  first  next 
season.  The  canes  now  in  fruit  must  be  cut  entirely 
away.  The  point  requiring  the  greatest  care  is  to  se- 
cure vigorous  buds  from  which  new  canes  are  produced 
next  year.  Nearly  always  there  will  be  found  several 
Avell  developed  accessory  buds  on  the  head  of  the  stump 
at  the  base  of  the  canes.  All  those  which  commence  to 
grow,  must  be  rubbed  off,  except  the  two  strongest. 
These  will  furnish  the  new  canes.  In  case  a  vigorous  cane 
is  not  furnished  by  accessory  buds,  one  may  still  be  had 
from  the  lowest  bud  on  the  cane  which  is  to  bear  fruit.  It 
is  seldom  that  a  necessity  of  this  kind  occurs.  When  it 
does,  all  trouble  for  the  succeeding  year  is  usually  obviated 
by  the  subsequent  formation  of  abundant  accessory  buds. 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  growing  canes  on  the  slats  are 
longer  than  the  fruiting  ones.  This  is  a  positive  advantage 
as  the  increased  length  which  is  afforded  the  cane  during 
its  season  of  growth,  makes  it  all  the  stronger,  and  what 


104  MY    VINEYARD. 

is  more,  adds  to  the  health  and  vigor  of  the  vine.  At  the 
flill  pruning,  these  canes  may  be  shortened  to  the  length 
of  the  upright  stakes. 


MY   YINEYARD.  l05 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


MORE    ABOUT    PRUNING    AND    TRAINING. 

In  this  chapter  I  propose  to  give  as  concisely  as  possible 
the  plan  pursued  with  my  last  few  acres  of  vineyard. 
The  plan  is  essentially  the  one  adopted  by  most  grape 
growers  in  my  vicinity,  and  generally  throughout  the 
whole  grape  region  in  which  I  am  situated.  The  jDlan 
possesses  some  advantages  over  the  one  elsewhere  de- 
scribed and  illustrated  in  this  work,  if  grapes  are  grown 
in  large  quantities;  but  for  only  a  few  vines,  or  a  very 
small  vineyard,  this  remark  does  not  apply. 

TRELLIS. 

The  trellis  used  is  made  of  wire  and  stakes,  or  small 

posts.     The  posts  are  usually  split  out  of  oak,  chestnut, 

or  other  durable  timber,  and  should  be  large  enough  to 

give  strength  to  the  trellis.     The  posts  are  set  eighteen 

feet  apart  in  rows,  which  run  north  and  south,  so  as  to 
5* 


106  MY    VINEYARD. 

give  a  more  uniform  exposure  of  the  grapes  to  the  sun. 
The  posts  should  be  long  enougli  so  as  to  be  from  four 
feet  eight  inches,  to  five  feet  in  height,  after  being  set. 
Four  wires  are  then  stretched  along  the  posts,  being  fast- 
ened to  each  post  with  a  staple,  which  is  driven  in  so 
firmly  that  the  wire  is  prevented  from  slipping  through. 
By  this  means  the  wire  is  prevented  from  sagging  in  one 
place  more  than  another,  and  the  strain  of  contraction  and 
expansion  by  heat  and  cold  is  evenly  distributed  among 
the  posts.  The  two  end  posts  should  be  larger  than  the 
others,  and  braced  so  that  the  contraction  of  the  wires 
will  not  loosen  them.  The  first  wire  is  placed  about  four- 
teen inches  from  the  ground,  and  the  others  the  same  dis- 
tance apart.  This  brings  the  upper  wire  about  four  feet 
eight  inches  from  the  ground.  Sometimes  only  three 
wires  are  used,  but  I  prefer  four,  as  it  permits  tying  up  the 
vines  more  thoroughly.  I  think  tliis  advantage  more 
than  compensates  for  the  extra  expense.  The  w4re  used 
is  No.  9,  annealed  iron.  If  the  trellises  are  eiglit  feet 
apart,  and  four  wires  are  used,  about  twelve  hundred  and 
fifty  pounds  will  be  required  for  an  acre.  As  to  the 
proper  distance  apart  for  the  trellises,  there  is  a  difi*erence 
of  opinion.  I  think  eight  feet  the  most  desirable,  but 
would  increase  rather  than  diminish  it. 


MY    VINEYAKD. 


107 


FIRST    YEAR. 


The  vines  are  planted  six  feet  apart  in  rows,  using  all 
the  care  elsewhere  described.  If  the  vines  are  six  feet 
apart,  there  will  he  three  between  each  two  posts  of  the 
trellis.  Sometimes  the  trellises  are  put  up  as  soon  as  the 
vines  are  planted.  In  this  case  the  vines  are  kept  tied 
up  the  first  season ;  otherwise  they  are  left  to  trail  upon 


Fig.  .1. 


Fig.  3. 


the  ground.  According  to  my  experience,  the  vines  do 
nearly  as  well  in  this  way  as  when  tied  up,  but  of  the  two 
methods  the  latter  is  preferable,  although  additional  labor 
is  required.  No  pruning  or  pinching  is  desirable  during 
the  first  year.     I  do  not  think  it  adds  in  any  way  to  the 


108 


MY    VINEYARD. 


size  or  vigor  of  the  i>laiit.  At  the  end  of  tlie  first  season 
the  vine  will  probably  have  reached  the  top  of  the  trellis, 
and  will  have  lateral  branches  of  considerable  size.  It  will 
have  something  of  the  appearance  represented  in  Fig.  2. 
At  the  fall  or  winter  prnning  the  plant  is  cnt  down  to  two 
strong  buds,  and  will  now  appear  as  shown  in  Fig.  1. 

SECOND    YEAR. 

During  the  second  year  a  cane  is  produced  from  each 
of  the  two  buds  left  at  the  last  pruning.     The  canes  may 


Fi. 


be  treated  like  the  one  cane  of  last  season,  except  it 
would  be  well  to  pinch  back,  once  or  twice  during  the 
season,  the  stronger  laterals,  so  as  to  develop  as  fully  as 


MY  vi:n^eyard.  109 

possible  the  two  main  canes  and  their  buds.  All  severe 
l^riming  and  pinching  must  be  guarded  against,  here  as 
elsewhere,  for  fear  of  forcing  the  buds  designed  for  next 
season,  into  premature  growth  this  season.  This  is  partic- 
ularly the  case  as  the  vines  get  older.  Fig.  3  is  intended 
to  rejDresent  the  appearance  of  the  vine  at  the  end  of  the 
second  season.  At  the  fall  j^runing,  the  two  canes  may- 
be cut  back  to  three  buds  each.  Fig.  4  shows  its  ap- 
pearance after  pruning. 

THIRD    YEAR. 

Six  buds  were  left  at  the  last  pruning,  from  which  six 
canes  can  be  grown  during  the  third  year.  Each  of  these 
canes  Avill  probably  bear  two  or  three  bunches  of  fruit 
each,  which  would  give  twelve  to  eighteen  bunches  to  the 
vine.  There  is  danger  of  the  vine  being  injured  by  over- 
bearing, on  which  account  the  bundles  should  be  thinned 
to  not  more  than  ten  or  twelve  to  the  vine.  The  laterals 
may  be  pinched  back  a  little  more  closely  than  during  the 
last  season,  and  the  canes  may  be  stopped  when  they  have 
reached  a  little  beyond  the  height  of  the  trellis.  Fig.  5 
shows  the  appearance  of  the  vine  at  the  end  of  the  season. 
The  subsequent  pruning  consists  of  cutting  three  canes 
down  to  two  buds,  and  shortening  the  three  remaining 
canes  to  about  three  feet.  The  vine  will  then  appear  as 
shown  in  Fig.  6. 


110 


MY    VINEYARD. 


FOURTH    YEAR. 

The  three  canes,  left  at  the  last  pruning,  will  this  year 
produce  branches,  each  of  which  Avill  have  two  or  three 
bunches  of  fruit.  These  branches  may  be  stopped  at  the 
second  leaf,  beyond  the  last  bunch  of  fruit.  Besides  these 
three  canes,  six  buds  were  left  at  the  last  pruning.  From 
each  of  these  a  cane  can  be  produced  for  fruiting  during 


Fi^.  5. 


the  fifth  year.  It  is  not  well  to  allow  too  many  bunches 
to  the  vine.  A  larger  amount  and  better  quality  of  fruit 
is  obtained  by  judicious  thinning.  As  to  the  amount  of 
thinning,  no  directions  can  be  given,  as  it  depends  largely 
upon  the  strength  and  vigor  of  the  vine,  and  the  variety 


MY    VINEYARD.  Ill 


Fig-.  6. 

of  grape.  In  the  fall,  the  three  canes,  which  have  fruited, 
may  be  cut  entirely  away ;  and  the  six  canes,  which  are 
to  fruit  next  year,  cut  back  to  abont  three  feet. 

SUBSEQUENT    MANAGEMENT. 

The  princij^al  point  in  subsequent  management  is  this, 
to  produce  each  year  from  four  to  six  strong  and  vigorous 
canes  for  fruiting  the  succeeding  year.  To  ensure  the 
production  of  these  canes,  care  must  be  taken  at  the  fall 
or  winter  pruning  to  leave  sufficient  buds  for  the  purpose; 
but  very  frequently  canes  will  be  produced  from  adventi- 
tious buds,  lower  down  on  the  vine  than  those  from  buds 
left  for  the  purpose.  In  this  case,  the  cane  from  adventi- 
tious buds  should  be  left  for  fruiting ;  and  it  is  always  de- 


112  MY   VINEYARD. 

sirable  to  i^roduce  new  canes  as  low  down  on  the  vine  as 
possible.  The  number  of  fruiting  canes  will  depend  upon 
variety  of  grape  and  strength  of  vine ;  but,  as  a  general 
thing,  from  four  to  six  to  each  vine  will  be  sufficient.  By- 
care  and  attention  in  making  the  most  of  every  strong 
adventitious  cane,  the  entire  vine  may  be  renewed  every 
six  or  eight  years  to  within  a  few  inches  of  the  ground. 
In  this  way  a  great  number  of  years  will  pass,  and  the 
stump  of  the  old  vine  will  not  have  reached  an  objection- 
able or  inconvenient  height.  As  a  general  thing  it  may 
be  set  down,  that  four-lifths  of  a  vine  in  full  bearing,  is 
cut  away  at  the  fall  pruning.  For  instance,  suppose  the 
vine  has  five  canes  which  have  fruited,  and  five  canes 
which  are  to  fruit  the  next  year.  The  fruited  canes  are 
cut  entirely  away ;  the  canes  for  fruiting  are  cut  back  to 
three  feet,  and  any  laterals  which  may  have  attained  any 
size,  are  cut  ofi*.  The  first  reduces  the  vine  one-half;  the 
second  about  one-fourth ;  and  the  last  usually  enough  to 
make  the  whole  reduction  amount  to  four-fifths. 


MY   VINEYARD.  Hi 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF    A    VINE. 

On  one  occasion,  not  long  ago,  I  visited  a  friend  who 
has  a  small  number  of  vines  wliicli  are  perfect  models  in 
form  and  vigor.  One  of  them  was  j^articularly  remarka- 
ble for  its  symmetry.  "  If  that  vine,"  I  remarked,  "  were 
to  tell  its  OTvn  story,  it  would  be  one  of  great  care  and 
untiring  attention."  "  Not  very  great,"  my  friend  replied  ; 
*'  and  as  to  telling  its  own  story,  I  see  no  reason  why  it 
should  not.  I  frequently  talk  to  it  while  engaged  in  the 
work  of  bringing  it  up  in  the  way  it  should  go."  Not 
many  days  afterwards  I  received  the  following  paper, 
bearing  the  title  I  have  placed  at  the  commencement  of 
this  chapter : 

"When  very  young,  I  know  not  how  old  indeed,  but 
nearly  as  far  back  as  my  memory  goes,  (you  would  have 
called  me  a  bud  in  those  days,)  I  used  to  take  great  de- 


114  MY    VINEYARD. 

light  in  the  anticipation  of  future  enjoyment.  My  father 
was  a  venerable  vine,  kindly  in  disposition,  and  well  to  do 
in  the  world.  His  roots  penetrated  the  soil  far  and  wide, 
where  abundant  nourishment  for  his  whole  family  was 
easily  gathered.  What  a  splendid  time,  so  I  soliloquised, 
will  I  have  the  whole  of  next  season  ;  (it  w^as  now  fall,) 
nothing  to  do  in  the  way  of  obtaining  food  for  myself,  no 
searching  the  dark  soil  here  and  there  for  delicate  tit-bits 
— nothing  of  the  kind ;  my  venerable  papa  will  do  all  that. 
My  only  task  will  be  to  put  forth  a  few  leaves,  and  digest 
the  nourishment  which  will  be  so  abundantly  furnished. 
The  gentle  summer  showers  will  refresh  me  when  I  am 
thirsty,  the  genial  sunshine  will  warm  me  when  cold,  and 
the  cooling  breezes  will  fan  me  when  the  heat  becomes 
oppressive.  What  a  continued  scene  of  enjoyment  will 
my  life  present !  I  can  scarcely  await  the  slow  approach 
of  spring,  so  that  I  can  enter  upon  it.  But  the  force  of 
circumstances  were  quite  overpowering ;  so  I  settled  down 
for  a  long  winter's  repose. 

But  alas  for  any  calculation  which  can  be  made  regard- 
ing the  affairs  of  this  transitory  world.  I  had  scarcely 
fallen  to  sleep  when  awakened  by  the  noise  of  voices  in 
conversation.  They  came  from  the  gardener  and  his  as- 
sistant. "  Here,  Patrick,"  said  the  first,  *'  cut  all  of  these 
vines  through  here  down  to  two  buds,  and  save  all  the 
well-ripened  wood  for  single  bud  cuttings."  "  Sure,  and 
I'll  do  that  same,"  was  the  willing  response  of  the  other. 


MY    VJN^EYAED.  115 

Kot  many  minutes  had  passed  before  the  sharp  knife  of 
Patrick  had  taken  me  and  many  of  my  brothers  away 
from  the  protecting  care  of  our  respected  ancestor.  Where 
now,  thought  I,  are  all  the  fine  calculations  for  next  year's 
enjoyment  ?  But  I  said  nothing,  consoling  myself  with 
the  reflection  that  the  society  of  my  brothers  Avas  still  left 
me.  Some  time  after  a  number  of  us  were  taken  up  and 
carried  into  a  propagating  house,  a  strange  looking  build- 
ing with  a  glass  roof.  The  air  was  warm,  almost  uncom- 
fortably so  ;  on  one  side  was  a  long  bench,  covered  with 
sand,  made  still  warmer  than  the  air  of  the  house,  by 
means  of  what  they  called  bottom  heat.  I  had  scarcely 
made  these  observations,  when  the  self  same  bloodthirsty 
Patrick  came  along  with  his  knife  and  deprived  me  of  my 
only  remaining  consolation,  by  separating  me  entirely 
from  all  my  kindred.  I  recalled  to  mind  an  old  saying 
that  misfortunes  never  come  singly,  and  thought  what  a 
fine  illustration  my  fate  afibrded  of 'its  truth.  Presently 
they  took  me  to  the  bench,  and  putting  me  in  the  sand  in 
a  slanthig  kind  of  way,  covered  me  completely  up.  Bur- 
ied alive,  thought  I ;  and  at  the  same  time  wondered 
why  they  failed  to  make  this  last  misfortune  complete  by 
not  putting  me  in  head  downwards.  But  they  did  not  do 
it,  and  herein  was  a  slight  shadow  of  consolation,  only  it 
was  so  dark  in  there  that  I  could  hardly  see  the  shadow. 
For  several  long  days  I  kept  very  quiet,  waiting  for  some- 
thing to  turn  up.       But  nothing  happened,  or  seemed 


116  MY    VINEYARD. 

likely  to.  So  I  put  np  a  leaf  or  two  above  the  sand  to  see 
what  was  going  on.  Among  ray  first  experiences  was  a 
drink  of  water  which  Patrick  was  kind  enough  to  give. 
What  a  comment  is  this,  thought  I,  upon  those  anticipated 
enjoyments!  Instead  of  the  gentle  summer  showers 
which  were  to  refresh  me  all  so  nice,  tlie  incorrigible  Pat- 
rick comes  along  and  gives  me  a  little  sprinkle  from  a  tin 
watering  pot !  And  thus  it  is,  frequently,  in  life.  The 
fine  castles  that  we  build,  grand  and  gorgeous  to  look 
upon,  too  ofttn  in  the  reality  are  only  plain  houses,  and 
even  these  sometimes  Avith  broken  windows  and  a  leaky 
roof. 

Before  many  days  I  began  to  get  quite  hungry.  I  was 
now  dependent  on  my  own  resourses,  not  having  the  kind 
papa  to  get  me  food  as  I  had  anticipated.  So  I  put  out  a 
few  roots  in  the  sand  to  see  wliat  could  be  found,  and  poor 
picking  it  was  you  can  rest  assured.  I  believe  I  should 
have  starved  to  death  if  it  had  not  been  for  the  food  my 
venerable  papa  had  surrounded  me  with  before  I  was  tak- 
en from  his  hospitable  trellis.  But  I  had  hardly  com- 
menced wondering  what  would  become  of  me,  when  who 
should  come  along  but  Patrick,  and  taking  me  from  the 
sand,  place  me  in  a  nice  little  pot,  filled  with  the  richest 
soil.  What  a  feast  Avas  that — a  regular  thanksgiving. 
There  Avas  such  a  nice  lot  of  food  close  at  hand,  that  be- 
ing thrown  on  my  oaa^i  resources  did  not  seem  so  bad  a 
thing  after  all.     I  grcAV  quite  rapidly,  and  it  was  not  long 


MY    VINEYARD.  117 

before  I  felt  crowded  in  my  new  abode.  My  roots  had 
nearly  filled  the  pot,  so  that  there  was  hardly  a  chance  to 
stir.  This  inconvenience  had  not  lasted  long,  when  the 
inevitable  Patrick,  whom  I  had  learned  to  look  upon  with 
some  degree  of  favor,  took  me  out  and  placed  me  in  a 
larger  pot.  This  was  a  sensible  operation,  as  I  had  out- 
grown the  old  one  much  as  a  school  boy  outgrows  a  pair 
of  shoes. 

In  my  new  abode  I  continued  to  grow  strong  and  vig- 
orous. It  was  not  long,  however,  before  spring  arrived. 
I  w^as  now  taken  from  the  pot  and  placed  with  a  great 
inimber  of  companions  in  a  bed  out  of  doors.  This  bed 
had  been  j)repared  w^ith  the  greatest  care.  It  was  mellow, 
and  dry  and  warm,  and  the  supply  of  food  was  so  abun- 
dant that  it  required  no  great  exertion  to  get  all  we  wanted. 

On  the  whole  w^e  passed  the  summer  very  pleasantly. 
They  gave  us  but  little  care,  and  I  should  say  that  we  did 
not  need  more,  because  many  of  us  were  at  least  five  feet 
tall  at  the  close  of  the  season.  When  we  were  planted, 
they  gave  us  a  good  mulching  of  coarse  barn-yard  manure, 
and  then  let  us  shift  for  ourselves,  except  that  they  pulled 
out  a  few  large  weeds  which  made  a  very  obvious  display 
of  large  capacities  for  stealing  our  food.  At  the  approach 
of  cold  weather  they  cut  us  all  down  to  about  four  buds, 
dug  us  out  of  the  bed,  and  heeled  us  in,  covering  us  after- 
wards entirely  with  earth. 

Early  next  spring,  some  of  us  were  taken  out,  packed 


118  MY   VIXEYARD. 

in  moss,  and  sent  some  distance  by  rail.  Without  any  re- 
markable incidents  on  the  journey,  we  arrived  here,  and  I 
was  shortly  afterwards  planted  in  the  very  spot  where 
you  see  nie  now. 

The  first  summer  passed  very  pleasantly.  The  soil 
must  have  been  nicely  prepared.  It  was  so  exceedingly 
mellow  that  my  roots  could  get  around  with  the  greatest 
ease.  There  was  a  little  lime  which  I  was  glad  to  get 
hold  of  now  and  then,  because  I  am  as  fond  of  it  as  most 
people  are  of  salt.  During  the  season  I  grew  pretty  much 
according  to  my  own  notion,  except  when  they  thought  a 
lateral  was  getting  a  little  too  long,  they  stopped  it.  In 
the  fall  they  came  along  with  pruning  shears,  which  they 
used  in  a  careless  sort  of  way,  as  is  proven  by  the  fact 
that  they  cut  me  back  to  only  fifteen  inches  in  height.  A 
mighty  pretty  way  that  is  to  barber  a  fellow,  thought  I. 
But  as  it  seemed  to  be  quite  the  f  ishion  among  all  my 
neighbors,  I  did  not  so  much  cnre. 

The  next  spring  they  came  along  and  rubbed  off  all  but 
my  two  upper  buds.  From  these  I  produced  two  very 
stout  canes  during  the  season,  the  laterals  being  kept 
pretty  closely  pinched  in.  Feeling  somewhat  ambitious, 
I  produced  this  season  a  couple  bunches  of  fruit,  whereat 
I  felt  as  much  pride  as  a  boy  does  with  his  first  whiskers, 
or  a  hen  over  the  first  egg.  The  gardener  who  had  charge 
of  me  in  those  days,  felt  very  much  gratified.  And  I  suj^pose 
he  was  entitled  to  some  reward  for  nil  the  trouble  he  had 


MY    VINEYARD.  119 

been  to  in  taking  care  of  me.  But  if  lie  had  left  me  more 
alone,  and  not  cut  and  pinched  me  so  much,  I  am  sure  I 
should  have  been  equally  well  gratified.  Perhaps  trials 
and  tribulations  are  necessary  to  the  proper  development  of 
character.  It  is  at  least  a  true  philosophy  of  life  to 
count  all  afilictions  as  blessings  in  disguise.  And  if  these 
disguises,  as  sometimes  happens,  are  so  well  put  on  that 
the  blessings  are.not  recognized,  we  must  still  exercise  our 
faith  that  they  are  there,  and  that  all  things  are  working 
together  for  good.  In  the  fall  these  two  canes  of  mine 
were  shortened  to  four  feet. 

The  next  spring,  this  was  my  third  year  in  the  vineyard, 
they  built  a  trellis  of  five  wires  attached  to  posts,  so  that 
the  lower  wire  was  fourteen  inches  from  the  ground.  On 
this  lower  wire  they  fastened  the  two  canes,  in  opposite 
directions,  and  called  them  arms.  And  now  what  do  you 
think  was  done  next?  All  of  the  buds  on  the  underside 
of  the  arms  were  rubbed  ofl";  but  from  each  of  the  buds 
on  the  upj^er  side  a  cane  Avas  allowed  to  grow,  making  six 
canes  on  an  arm.  These  canes  were  tied  to  the  trellis  as 
they  grew,  and  the  laterals  kept  ^^I'etty  well  shortened  in. 
Feeling  somewhat  in  the  fruiting  way,  I  produced  one  or 
two  bunches  of  fruit  on  each  cane,  about  twenty  in  all ; 
but  I  did  not  feel  so  proud  of  them  as  I  had  done  of  the 
two  bunches  the  previous  year.  At  the  fall  pruning,  the 
gardener  cut  ofi"  all  the  canes  down  to  two  buds.  This 
bit  of  cane  which  he  left  on  he  called  a  spur.     And  there 


120  MY    VINEYARD , 

I  stood,  the  whole  winter  through,  with  arms  outstretched 
to  their  fullest  extent.  It  would  have  become  quite  fa- 
tiguing had  not  the  trellis  afforded  me  a  good  support. 

The  next,  the  fourth  year  of  my  vineyard  life,  a  cane 
was  produced  from  each  of  the  two  buds  left  on  the  spurs, 
making  a  dozen  canes  to  an  arm.  These  were  treated  pre- 
cisely as  those  of  last  season,  but  the  amount  of  fruit  I 
produced  was  very  much  increased.  I  think  there  must 
have  been  some  sixty  or  seventy  bunches  in  all.  In  the 
fall,  each  alternate  cane  was  cut  entirely  away,  aud  the 
rest  down  to  two  buds. 

From  that  day  to  this  my  life  has  been  simply  a  repeti- 
tion of  my  fourth  year's  experience.  Many  good  crops 
of  fruit  have  I  borne,  but  I  do  not  feel  exhausted,  or  that 
old  age  is  creeping  upon  me.  Indeed,  when  I  recall  to 
mind  the  stories  I  used  to  hear  father  tell  of  some  of  our 
ancestors  who  had  rejoiced  in  the  summer  sun  of  half  a 
dozen  centuries,  the  notion  creeps  over  me  that  I  shall 
live  and  bear  my  fruit  foi*  at  least  a  hundred  years  to 


MY   VINEYARD.  121 


CHAPTER  XV. 


BRIEF    EXPOSITIONS. 

In  this  chapter  I  propose  to  consider  very  briefly  some 
matters  connected  with  grape  culture,  a  few  of  which  have 
been  glanced  at,  but  none  of  which  have  been  dwelt  upon 
at  great  length.  Indeed,  it  is  not  designed  to  make  this 
work  a  scientific  treatise ;  there  are  already  enough  of 
those,  and  very  good  ones,  too.  Nevertheless,  if  the  pur- 
pose is  successful  of  making  this  record  of  my  experience 
plain  enough  for  all  to  understand,  I  do  not  see  why  it 
may  not  serve  as  a  guide  for  others,  whereby  they  may 
reach  a  degree  of  success  in  grape-growing  equal  to  my 
own. 

Tying. — In  tying  up  young  and  tender  shoots,  or  even 
mature  canes,  care  should  be  used  against  tying  too  tight- 
ly, as  the  free  flow  of  sap  may  be  obstructed.     I  obtain  a 

supply  of  material  for  tying  from  basswood  bark.     In  the 
6 


122  MY    VINEYARD. 

spring,  a  bass  wood  tree  from  eight  to  ten  inches  in  diame- 
ter, of  which  my  woods  afford  an  abundant  supply,  is 
felled,  the  bark  peeled  off  and  sunk  in  the  lake,  (a  running 
stream  is  better,)  so  as  to  be  entirely  covered  with  water, 
being  f  istened  down  with  stones.  In  two  to  three  weeks 
the  sappy  and  glutinous  substances  of  the  bark  are  soaked 
out,  so  that  it  can  be  separated  into  the  fine  and  delicate 
layers  of  which  it  is  composed.  Xo  material  could  be 
better  than  this  for  the  purpose  of  tying.  \Yhen  it  can 
not  be  obtained,  any  soft  string  or  stout  woolen  yarn  may 
be  used. 

Packing  Fruit. — The  boxes  used  in  packing  grapes  for 
shipping,  are  of  different  sizes,  holding  from  five  to  twen- 
ty-five pounds.  They  are  sold  according  to  their  capacity, 
usually  at  one  cent  a  pound,  a  five-pound  box  costing  five 
cents,  and  so  on  for  larger  sizes.  Establishments  for  their 
manufacture  are  found  in  all  the  principal  grape  legions. 
In  packing,  the  top  is  first  nailed  on,  and  a  sheet  of  thin, 
white  paj^er  put  in  ;  whole  bunches  of  grapes  are  first  put 
in,  being  packed  as  closely  as  possible  without  jamming 
them.  The  vacant  places  left,  after  putting  in  as  many 
whole  bunches  as  the  box  will  contain,  are  filled  with 
parts  of  bunches,  and  lastly  with  single  grapes,  so  that  all 
the  space  is  occupied.  Another  sheet  of  paper  is  now  laid 
on,  and  the  bottom  nailed  down.  By  this  means,  when  the 
boxes  are  opened,  only  entire  bunches  are  found  at  the  top. 


MY   VINEYARD.  12o 

Picking  foe  Wine. — Grapes  intended  for  wine  should 
be  left  on  the  vines  as  long  as  jDossible  without  danger 
from  frosts.  The  peculiar  qualities  necessary  to  the  man- 
ufacture of  a  good  wine,  are  only  developed,  or  at  least, 
are  developed  most  largely  late  in  the  season.  In  picking, 
the  utmost  care  should  be  employed  in  throwing  out  all 
diseased  or  imperfectly  ripened  berries. 

Systems  of  Pruning. — The  diiferent  systems  of  prun- 
ing and  training  described  in  the  grape  books  are  almost 
innumerable.  Many  of  them  are  very  fine,  if  we  are  to 
judge  from  the  illustrations.  But  I  apprehend  that  the 
wonderful  success  with  which  many  of  them  are  carried 
out  is  more  imaginative  than  real.  Nevertheless,  the 
grape  is  the  most  tractable  of  plants,  and  can  be  worked 
into  a  wide  variety  of  forms ;  but  those  only  are  best 
which  are  most  simple. 

Time  of  Pruning. — Much  latitude  can  be  taken  as  to 
the  time  of  pruning.  In  the  fall,  soon  after  the  leaves 
have  fallen,  I  consider  best.  The  winter  or  early  spring 
answers  very  well,  but  it  should  never  be  delayed  until 
the  sap  has  commenced  to  move.  When  cuttings  are  to 
be  made  of  the  wood,  early  fall  is  the  only  good  time  to 
prune.  In  the  cooler  regions,  Avhere  protection  is  not 
adopted,  the  precaution  against  too  close  fall  pruning, 
elsewhere  given,  must  be  observed. 

Effects  of  Pruning. — One  effect  of  pruning,  which  is 
the  desired  one,  is  to  force  the  vine  into  a  precocity  of 


124  MY    VINEYAKD. 

bearing  which  it  does  not  have  in  its  wild  state;  but  an- 
other eifect,  and  an  undesired  one,  is  the  engendering  of 
disease.  This  last  effect  is  of  least  frequent  occurrence  in 
those  systems  of  training  which  requires  the  least  pruning. 
Hence,  excessive  pruning  should  be  guarded  against ;  but 
it  does  not  follow  that  no  pruning  at  all  would  be  a  desir- 
able system  of  culture.  What  we  desire  of  the  vine  is 
that  it  shall  subserve  our  wants.  This  it  will  not  generally 
do  in  its  natural  state,  or  when  left  to  its  natural  tenden- 
cies ;  artificial  means  are  therefore  employed  to  bring 
about  the  desired  end. 

Vines  without  Pruning. — Nevertheless,  I  have  seen 
vines  succeed  admirably  when  left  to  themselves.  Being- 
planted  at  the  side  of  large  trees,  they  climbed  to  the  top, 
and  bore  rich  treasures  of  fruit  among  the  branches.  And 
these  vines  were  free  from  disease.  But  it  must  be  re- 
membered that  with  all  varieties,  and  in  all  localities,  these 
results  will  not  obtain.  The  opposite  is  the  rule  ;  this  the 
exception.  Still,  to  all  who  can  do  so  without  inconven- 
ience, I  would  recommend  a  trial  of  this  method  with  a 
few  plants. 

Training  near  the  Ground. — They  tell  me  that  in 
Minnesota,  though  I  have  never  seen  it,  they  have  a  way 
of  training  their  vines  upon  trellises  only  a  few  inches 
above  the  ground,  much  as  they  would  train  melons.  The 
claim  is,  that  the  grapes  are  ripened  by  the  rndiated  heat 
of  the  soil,  when  they  would  not  be  on  an  upright  trellis. 


MY    VINEYARD.  125 

Farther  than  this,  the  fruit  may  be  easily  covered,  should 
an  untimely  frost  occur.  A  small  quantity  of  fruit  might 
be  grown  in  this  way.  A  trial  of  it  would  be  worth  mak- 
ing in  a  cold  locality. 

Diseases. — The  grape,  in  common  with  all  cultivated 
fruits,  is  liable  to  disease.  In  any  given  locality,  it  seems 
to  confine  itself  to  certain  varieties  ;  while  in  other  locali- 
ties these  varieties  may  Avholly  escape  and  others  be  at- 
tacked. My  vines  have  never  been  diseased  until  the 
past  season,  Avhen  a  few  were  attacked  by  mildew,  and  a 
few  by  rot.  The  injury,  however,  was  very  slight,  al- 
though a  more  unfavorable  season  could  scarcely  occur. 
Most  every  thing  mildewed  more  or  less — even  the  grow- 
ing corn  in  the  field  to  some  extent.  I  apprehend  there 
are  no  remedies  for  any  grape  diseases.  Prevention  is 
what  should  be  looked  to.  It  may  be  effected  by  thor- 
ouo'h  underdraining^  and  careful  tillao^e. 

o  o  o 

Insects. — There  seems  to  be  no  animal  or  plant  which 
is  not  designed  for  other  animals  or  plants  to  live  upon.  I 
remember  on  one  occasion  seeing  a  beetle  in  my  hot-bed, 
so  loaded  down  with  lice  that  it  could  scarcely  move. 
They  were  literally  eating  it  alive.  But  what  was  my 
surprise  on  looking  closer,  to  see  upon  these  lice  numerous 
smaller  ones  engaged  in  the  process  of  devouring  them. 
I  do  not  know  how  much  fxrther  the  system  would  have 
been  revealed  by  the  aid  of  tlie  microscoj^e.  The  vegetable 
world  has  to  stand  a  double  portion,  it  being  not  only 


126  MY    YIXEYARD. 

preyed  upon  by  other  vegetables,  as  in  the  case  of  mildew, 
but  by  animals  as  well.  At  present,  the  enemies  of  the 
grape,  or  rather  the  lovers  of  the  grape  among  the  insect 
tribes,  are  not  numerous  enough  to  be  seriously  destruc- 
tive. The  farmer  should  first  learn  to  distinguish  between 
those  insects  which  prey  upon  others,  and  those  which  prey 
upon  plants,  and  then  wage  a  ceaseless  war  of  extermination 
upon  vegetable  eaters  of  every  kind,  and  in  all  stages  of 
their  development.  Let  the  insects  which  ravage  upon  any 
crop  once  get  the  upper  hand,  and  it  were  a  hopeless  task 
to  quell  them.  Kill  one  insect  this  year,  and  next  year  it 
may  save  the  ravages  of  a  thousand.  And  it  matters  not 
by  whom  it  is  killed.  A  bird's  method  is  as  effectual  as 
any ;  therefore  save  those  birds  which  are  insect  eaters. 

Planting. — I  know  of  no  better  method  of  planting 
than  the  one  I  pursued  with  my  first  acre  of  vines.  It 
might  be  done  with  half  the  care  and  trouble,  but  such 
slackness  would  not  be  profitable. 

Time  of  Planting. — I  have  always  planted  in  the 
spring,  and  think  that  time  the  best  for  all  regions  where 
the  winters  are  severe.  As  a  general  thing  it  matters  ht- 
tle  as  to  time,  if  tlie  planting  be  well  done.  With  sufficient 
care,  a  plant  may  be  moved  in  the  height  of  summer  with- 
out injury.  Whether  you  plant  in  spring  or  fall,  be  sure 
to  cut  back  the  top  so  as  to  fully  balance  any  loss  the 
root  has  sustained. 

Manure. — I  believe  in  manure.     Plants  must  have  food, 


MY    YIXETARD.  127 

but  kind  and  quantity  should  be  considered.  A  giant 
may  eat  largely  of  bacon  and  find  it  agreeable,  but  a 
dwarf  might  get  the  dyspepsia.  The  cultivated  vine  is  a 
dwarf,  as  you  may  know  by  comparing  it  with  a  wild  one. 
This  is  one  reason  why  greater  care  must  be  exercised 
with  the  quality  and  quantity  of  its  food  than  is  necessary 
with  most  plants.  Other  reasons  have  been  elsewhere 
given.  Give  your  vines  food ;  if  there  be  not  enough  al- 
ready in  the  soil,  then  supply  it.  But  do  not  give  too 
much  ;  and  be  sure  the  quality  is  right. 

Situation — This  is  of  first  importance.  It  matters  not 
how  great  skill  may  be  employed,  a  vineyard  can  not  be 
successful  unless  nature  has  made  the  situation  favorable. 
Still,  a  few  vines  may  be  grown  by  most  any  one  who  has 
a  house.  But  a  vineyaid  as  one's  employment,  and  a  few 
vines  for  the  gratification  of  one's  self  and  family,  are 
quite  different  things. 

Peepaeatiq]^  of  Soil. — This  is  of  second  importance. 
The  different  processes  of  preparation  are  arranged  accord- 
ing to  relative  importance  in  this  way.  Fineness  of  tilth  ; 
underdraining ;  subsoiling.  There  must  positively  be 
fineness  of  tilth,  else  the  roots  become  exhausted  in  clamb- 
ering over  and  around  big  lumps  in  search  of  food.  On 
the  other  hand,  if  the  soil  be  the  least  wet,  there  can  be 
no  fineness  of  tilth  without  underdraining,  so  that  the  soil 
may  become  dry.  The  one  is  a  corollary  of  the  other. 
The  truth  is,  all  the  important  processes  of  grape  culture, 


128  MY   VINEYARD. 

or  any  other  branch  of  farming,  are,  as  it  were,  dove-tailed 
together,  and  any  one  of  them  were  well  nigh  useless 
without  all  the  others. 

Soil. — This  is  of  third  importance.  I  should  arrange 
the  different  kinds  of  soil,  according  to  their  relative  im- 
portance, as  follows :  Clay  ;  clayey  loam  ;  heavy  clay ; 
sandy  loam ;  light  sand  or  gravel ;  aUuvium.  By  the  first 
I  mean  a  moderately  strong  clay,  but  not  the  heaviest. 
Any  soil  is  greatly  improved  by  lime. 

Distance  apart. — My  first  vines  were  six  feet  by  six  ; 
those  more  recently  planted  are  six  feet  by  eight.  I 
think  the  last  distance  best  for  vineyards. 


MY    VINEYARD.  129 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


VARIETIES. 

One  of  the  most  remarkable  features  of  grape  culture  is 
the  adaptation  of  certain  varieties  to  specific  localities. 
The  same  grape  may  be  worthless  in  one  place,  good  in 
another,  and  the  best  of  all  varieties  in  a  third  ;  or  it  may 
succeed  in  a  given  locality  for  a  few  years  and  then  be- 
come a  failure. 

The  Catawba  and  Isabella  are  the  varieties  planted  in 

the  Lake  Erie  regions,  to  the  almost  total  exclusion  of  all 

others.     Were  I  to  extend  my  vineyard,  I  should  plant 

equal  quantities  of  these  varieties.     Still,  the  Catawba  has 

well  nigh  failed  from  disease  in  the  Cincinnati  region,  and 

has  been  superseded  by  other  varieties  at  Hermann.     It 

is  possible  that  it  may  meet  a  similar  fate  here,  but  at 

present  it  is  our  most  profitable  grape. 

Full  ;iccount  of  all  the  varieties,  Avhich  are  very  numer- 
6* 


130  MY    VINEYARD. 

ous,  are  given  in  the  grape  books.  In  testing  the  adapta- 
tion of  any  new  locahty  to  grape  culture,  it  would  be  well 
to  plant  a  number  of  different  varieties,  selecting  those 
which  have  obtained  a  reputation  of  being  successful  in 
different  regions.  It  would  be  a  hazardous  proceeding  to 
plant  a  vineyard  in  a  region  where  the  grape  is  not  posi- 
tively known  to  be  successful.  A  trial  should  at  first  be 
made  on  a  small  scale,  which  will  be  rendered  all  the  more 
definite  and  decisive  by  including  a  number  of  varieties. 

The  following  are  the  varieties  which  I  have  planted : 
Catawba,  Isabella,  Delaware,  Clinton,  Concord,  Anna, 
Diana,  Rebecca,  Allen's  Hybrid,  and  six  of  Roger's  Hy- 
brid. Some  of  them  have  been  recently  j^lanted,  and  have 
not  commenced  bearing.  I  am,  therefore,  unable  to  judge 
of  their  success.  But  of  all  the  varieties  with  which  I  am 
acquainted,  the  Delaware  combines  more  good  qualities 
than  any  other.  Its  earliness  renders  it  well  adapted  to 
the  more  northern  and  colder  regions.  In  the  garden,  or 
on  a  small  place,  when  only  a  few  vines  are  to  be  grown, 
this  should  be  the  leading  variety. 

For  trial  in  new  localities,  the  following  would  perhaps 
be  most  desirable :  Delaware,  Concord,  Catawba,  Isabella, 
Hartford  Prolific,  Norton's  Virginia,  Clinton,  and  of  the 
newer  sorts,  Adirondac,  Creveling,  lona,  and  Israella. 


MY    VINEYAKD.  131 


CHAPTER  XVII. 


NEW    GRAPE    REGIONS. 

In  most  regions  where  the  grape  has  been  found  suc- 
cessful, land  is  held  at  so  high  a  figure  as  to  preclude  its 
purchase  by  men  of  limited  means.  But  there  are  doubt- 
less hundreds  of  other  localities  where  the  grape  has  not 
been  introduced,  which  will  ultimately  become  as  success- 
ful as  any  now  known.  On  many  of  the  steep  and  rocky 
hillsides  of  the  New  England  States,  where  the  wild  vine 
now  clambers  in  rich  luxuriance,  bearing  its  heavy  burthen 
of  fruit,  there  are  doubtless  many  places  where  the  culti- 
vated vine  might  be  grown  with  very  satisfactory  success. 
The  same  may  be  said  of  the  shores  of  hundreds  of  small 
lakes  scattered  throughout  the  country,  where  the  volume 
of  water  is  sufficient  to  exert  an  ameliorating  influence 
upon  the  climate.  I  have  in  mind  a  small  lake,  only  a 
mile  in  length,  and  of  still  less  breadth,  which  so  retards 


132  MY    VINEYARD. 

the  autumn  frosts  that  peaches  can  be  ripened  upon  its 
shores,  while  at  the  distance  of  only  two  or  three  miles, 
they  are  almost  always  destroyed.  In  one  or  two  instan- 
ces, also,  where  the  corn  crop  has  been  destroyed  a  mile 
or  two  from  the  lake  by  extraordinarily  early  frosts,  in 
the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  lake  it  has  been  fully  matur- 
ed. Such  a  locality  would  doubtless  be  congenial  to  the 
grape.  And  I  can  scarcely  conceive  of  a  j^leasanter  spot 
for  a  rural  home,  with  all  its  quiet  enjoyments,  than  the 
shoies  of  some  of  our  beautiful  inland  lakes,  where  the 
chief  employment  of  the  husbandman  might  be  the  culture 
of  the  vine. 

WHO  SHOULD  PLANT  GRAPES? 

.  The  grape  is  so  luscious  a  fruit,  and  grape-growing  so 
pleasant,  and  withal,  so  profitable  an  employment,  that  I 
would  say  to  every  one  who  is  the  owner  of  a  farm,  or 
even  a  garden  of  the  smallest  dimensions,  try  a  few  vines: 
the  task  will  be  but  slight,  and  it  may  lead  to  more  suc- 
cessful ^results  than  you  have  any  conception  of.  True,  in 
very  many  instances,  failure  w^ould  be  the  result ;  but  the 
chances  of  success  are  numerous  enough  to  warrant  the 
undertaking. 

There  is  no  plant  like  the  grape  to  adapt  itself  to  all 
sorts  of  localities.  No  place  could  suit  it  better  than  the 
sunny  side  of  a  building,  near  to  the  wall.  Here  it  would 
luxuriate,  searching  out  its  food  from  places  which  other 


MY    VINEYARD.  133 

plants  would  hardly  find,  and  elaborating  it  into  the  rich- 
est fruit.  A  fruit  tree,  a  currant  bush,  a  hill  of  corn,  or 
even  a  flower,  would  hardly  find  a  foothold  in  such  a  place 
for  want  of  room.  Plant  one  vine  in  the  best  spot  which 
you  can  find;  it  will  appreciate  every  care  and  attention 
which  you  bestow  upon  it,  and  will  do  its  best  to  return 
to  you  an  abundant  reward.  If  it  succeed  in  this,  you 
will  presently  bring  it  companions  to  keep  it  company. 


MY   VINEYARD.  135 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


ANCIENT    METHODS    OF    CULTURE. 

I  have  been  somewhat  interested  and  instructed  by  a 
study  of  ancient  methods  of  culture.  One  is  not  a  little 
surprised  to  find,  as  the  result  of  his  studies,  that  our 
knowledge  of  horticulture,  of  which  we  are  not  unfre- 
quently  ready  to  boast,  is  in  many  departments  scarcely  a 
step  in  advance  of  theirs  who  lived  thirty  centuries  ago. 
In  the  matter  of  grafting  it  is  probable  that  our  skill  is 
not  equal  to  that  of  the  ancients.  As  regards  the  vine  in 
the  old  world,  the  methods  of  culture  seem  to  have  chang- 
ed but  little  since  the  days  of  Hesiod,  who  w^rote  largely 
upon  the  subject  three  thousand  years  ago.  This  was 
more  than  a  thousand  years  before  the  days  of  Pliny, 
whose  own  voluminous  works  are  eighteen  centuries  old, 
but  for  soundness  and  accuracy  in  many  particulars  have 
hardly  been  surpassed  up  to  the  present  time.     It  is  true 


136 


MY    VINEYARD. 


that  these  old  writers  incorporate  strange  notions  and  ridi- 
culons  explanations  into  their  discourses ;  but  the  rnles 
laid  down,  and  the  directions  given,  are  generally  the  ones 
which,  even  at  the  present  day,  lead  to  success. 

Pliny  writes  largely  upon  the  vine.  His  directions  for 
its  culture  are  almost  as  complete  as  any  that  can  now  be 
given.  He  indulges  in  long  discourses  upon  the  great 
excellence  of  numerous  varieties,  and  in  one  place  gives 
the  poet  Yirgil  a  sound  scolding  for  mentioning  only  fif- 
teen^varieties  in  the  Georgies.  As  an  illustration  of  what 
ought  to  be  done,  he  describes  ninety-one  varieties  of 
grapes,  and  fifty  of  wine. 

One  marked  feature  which  distinguishes  ancient  from 
modern  culture,  is  the  training  of  vines  to  trees,  a  method 
occasionally  adopted  by  the  ancients.  Virgil  tells  us  how 
this  ought  to  be  done  : 

"  Be  mindful  when  thou  has  intombed  the  shoot, 
With  store  of  earth  around  to  feed  the  root ; 
With  iron  teeth  of  rakes  and  pcongs  to  move 
The  crusted  earth,  and  loosen  it  above. 
Then  exercise  thy  sturdy  steers  to  plow 
Betwixt  tlie  vines,  and  teach  each  feeble  row 
To  mount  on  reeds  and  wands,  and  upwaid  led 
On  ashen  poles  to  raise  their  forky  head. 
On  these  new  crutches  let  them  learn  to  walk, 
'Til,  swerving  upw  ards  with  a  stronger  stalk. 
They  brave  the  winds,  and  climbing  to  their  guide, 
On  tops  of  elms  at  length  triumphartt  ride." 

Says  Pliny  upon  this  point :  "  In  Campania  they  attach 
the  vine  to  the  poplar ;  embracing  tbe'tree  to  which  it  is 
thus  wedded,  the  vine  grasps  the  branches  with  its  amor- 


MY   VINEYARD.  137 

ous  arms,  and  as  it  climbs,  holds  on  with  its  knotted  trunk 
till  it  has  reached  the  very  summit ;  the  height  being 
sometimes  so  stupendous  that  the  vintager,  when  hired,  is 
wont  to  stipulate  for  his  funeral  pile  and  grave  at  the 
owner's  expense." 

Yirgil  continues  his  discourse  by  giving  directions  for 
pruning : 

"  But  in  their  tender  nonage,  while  they  spread 
Their  springing  leaves,  and  lift  their  infant  head. 
And  upwards  while  they  start  in  open  air, 
Indulge  their  childhood,  and  tlie  nurselings  spare ; 
Nor  exercise  thy  rage  on  new-born  life  ; 
But  let  thy  hand  supply  the  pruning  knife, 
And  crop  luxuriant  stragglers,  nor  be  loth 
To  strip  their  branches  of  their  leafy  growth. 
But  when  the  rooted  vines  with  steady  hold 
Can  clasp  their  elms,  then  husbandman  be  bold 
To  lop  the  disobedient  boughs  that  strayed 
Beyond  their  rank  ;  let  crooked  steel  invade 
The  lawless  troops,  which  discipline  disclaim, 
And  their  superfluous  growth  with  vigor  tame." 

Among  the  ancients  the  vine  was  frequently  called  a 
tree,  an  appropriate  term  so  far  as  the  size  of  many  of  the 
plants  is  concerned.  Pliny  says  that  "in  Populonium 
we  see  a  statue  of  Jupiter  formed  of  the  trunk  of  a  single 
vine,  which  has  for  ages  remained  proof  against  all  decay. 
At  Metapontum,  the  temple  of  Juno  has  long  stood  sup- 
ported by  pillars  formed  of  the  same  material ;  and  even 
at  the  present  day  we  ascend  to  the  roof  of  the  temple 
of  Diana  by  stairs  constructed  of  the  trunk  of  a  single 


169  MY    VINEYARD. 

Many  ancient  naturalists,  as  ^Yell  as  modern  travelers, 
agree  in  their  accounts  of  the  immense  size  and  great  age 
which  the  vine  attains  in  Eastern  countries.  Pliny  gives 
an  account  of  a  vine  six  hundred  years  old.  Miller,  in  his 
work  on  the  vines  of  Italy,  says  that  they  are  considered 
young  at  a  hundred,  and  that  many  have  been  in  cultiva- 
tion upwards  of  a  hundred  years.  "With  us  the  vine  does  '' 
not  seem  to  attain  so  great  a  size  as  in  Oriental  countries. 
It  has,  however,  been  observed  of  large  proportions  in  the 
rich  alluvial  soil  of  the  Ohio  Valley,  several  having  been 
measured  which  were  three  feet  in  circumference  at  the 
base  of  the  stem,  with  branches  two  hundred  feet  long, 
encircling  and  festooning  the  tops  of  huge  poplars  and 
sycamores.  An  account  has  recently  been  given  of  a  vine 
in  California  which  has  a  trunk  ten  feet  in  circumference. 
It  is  stated  to  have  had  seven  thousand  bunches  of  grapes 
upon  it  at  one  time,  the  estimated  yield  of  fruit  being 
eighteen  thousand  pounds. 

The  grape  attains  its  greatest  perfection  and  complete 
lusciousness  in  Syria  ^nd  Persia,  and  upon  the  declivities 
of  the  Himalaya  and  Caucasus  mountains.  It  was  in  this 
region,  in  the  beautiful  Garden  of  Eden,  where  Adam  and 
Eve  first  pruned  the  vine,  and  were  doubtless 

*  *  *  "bold 

To  lop  the  disobedient  bouglis  that  strayed 
Beyond  their  rank." 


MY    VINETAKD.  139 

Milton  recounts  the  daily  labors  of  this  venerable  pair 
in  the  following  language  : 

"  On  to  their  morning's  rural  work  they  haste, 
Among  sweet  dews  and  flowers,  where  any  row 
Of  fruit  trees,  over  woody,  reached  too  far 
Their  pampered  boughs  and  needed  hands  to  check 
Fruitless  embraces  ;  or  tliey  led  the  vine 
To  wed  his  elm  ;  she,  spoused,  ^bout  him  twines 
Her  marriageable  arms,  and  with  her  brings 
Her  dower,  the  adapted  clusters,  to  adorn 
His  barren  leaves." 

"  From  the  remotest  periods  of  antiquity,  the  vine  has 
been  celebrated  as  a  type  of  plenty,  and  a  symbol  of  hap- 
piness. The  pages  of  Scripture  abound  with  allusions  to 
the  vine  as  emblematical  of  prosperity ;  and  it  is  declared, 
in  describing  the  peaceful  and  flourishing  state  of  the 
kingdom  of  Israel,  during  the  reign  of  Solomon,  that  Ju- 
dah  and  Israel  dwelt  safely,  every  man  under  his  own 
vine  and  under  his  fig  tree." 

The  history  of  the  vine  is  almost  or  quite  as  old  as  that 
of  man.  It  has  followed  him  as  he  has  spread  throughout 
the  world,  and  is  now  found  in  almost  every  clime.  In 
our  own  country,  the  first  organized  efforts  at  viue-grow-r 
ing  date  back  more  than  two  hundred  and  thirty  years. 
These  first  efforts,  however,  met  with  little  success,  being 
confined  almost  entirely  to  European  varieties.  It  was 
not  until  about  forty  years  ago  that  the  introduction  of 
the  Catawba,  a  native  seedling,  gave  an  impetus  to  grape 
culture,    and   brought   about    the    wide-spread    business 


140  MY    VINEYARD. 

which  is  receiving  so  much  attention  at  the  present  day. 
Hundreds  of  new  varieties  have  been  originated  since  the 
Catawba  was  introduced  ;  but  none  of  them,  perhaps,  are 
so  generally  successful  or  so  well  liked.  Its  praises  are 
thus  sung  by  Longfellow  • 

"  Very  good  in  Us  way  is  the  Verzenay 

Or  the  Sillery,  soft  and  creamy, 
But  Catawba  wine  has  a  taste  more  divine, 

JMore  dulcet,  delicious  and  dreamy. 
There  grows  no  vine,  by  the  haunted  Rhine, 

By  the  Danube  or  Guadalqiiivier, 
Nor  island  or  cape,  that  bears  such  a  grape 

As  grows  by  the  Beautiful  River." 


MY   VINEYARD.  141 


CHAPTER   XIX. 

THE     RESPONSE. 

"  *  *  *  Does  the  "  record  "  answer  the  inquiry 
which  you  seem  to  make?  "Too  late  to  go  a-farming?" 
So  many  things  are  to  be  considered  that  one  can  hardly 
say.  In  your  meditation  upon  the  subject,  above  other 
things,  one  sliould  be  kept  in  mind.  Can  you  infer  it  to 
be  aught  else  than  your  lamentable  bachelorhood? 
Why  Providence  should  have  visited  you  with  such  a 
judgment,  I  know  not.  But  it  is  never  too  late  (so  wise 
men  say)  for  reform  and  repentance,  even  to  the  eleventh 
hour ;  and  how  much  more  available  must  the  eighth 
hour  be,  which  is  scarcely  passed.  With  a  helpmeet,  a 
dear  companion  of  your  joys  and  sorrows  (and  there  will 
be  both)  then  look  ahead. 

If  you  can  find  within  you  the  least  germ  of  love  for  a 
rural  life,  my  advice  is,  nourish  it  with  care ;  and  if  it 
flourisheth,  then  cast  around  for  some  country  home  wliicli 
shall  be  congenial  to  your  tastes.     The  change  would  be 


142  MY    VINEYARD. 

a  wide  one  from  your  editorial  qiiill,  and  your  dealings  in 
politics,  in  which  every  one  must  need  engage  who  is  con- 
nected with  the  partizan  press.  I  have  never  disguised 
tlie  estimation  in  which  I  hold  politics,  with  its  dark  and 
devious  ways ;  and  you  know  well  enough  my  want  of 
sympathy  for  those  who  ex^^erience  its  tribulations.  For 
me,  a  political  atmosphere  is  not  congenial.  I  get  my  fill 
of  it  once  a  year  when  I  go  down  to  the  village  to  put  in 
my  vote.  It  is  seldom  that  the  inevitable  Jacobs  fails  to 
exhibit  himself  at  the  grocery  corner  exj^ounding  to  Pat- 
rick's evident  gratification,  the  glorious  principles  of  the 
Constitution  ;  being  at  all  times  ready  to  enforce  his  ar- 
guments with  liberal  potations  of  so-called  Bourbon,  and  a 
moderate  supply  of  filthy  lucre.  "  And  is  it  no  more  ye 
would  be  after  paying  me  ?"  says  Patrick ;  "  wasn't  it  a 
half  dollar  a  vote  ye  gave  to  me  in  the  auld  days  of  silver  ? 
and  isn't  it  worth  twice  that  now  ?" 

The  truth  is,  my  friend,  the  whole  slough  of  politics 
needs  a  thorough  underdraining,  to  let  oif  the  stagnant 
waters,  and  admit  a  purer  air;  this  done,  ashes  and  lime, 
and  purifying  salt  should  be  applied  with  a  liberal  hand. 
It  is  possible  that  by  this  reclamation,  good  fruits,  though 
not  of  the  best,  may  be  produced. 

In  the  farm  life  there  are  both  prose  and  poetry ;  but 
both  are  good.  The  pure  air,  and  bright  skies,  and  warb- 
ling birds,  and  blooming  flowers,  are  not  all  imagination ; 
they  are  real,  and  he  who  will  may  enjoy  them.     It  is  a 


MY    VINEYARD.  143 

wrong  notion  that  farm  labor  is  not  compatible  with  re- 
finement ;  the  dirty  boots  and  coarse  blouse  in  which  you 
drive  your  team  afield,  do  not  militate  against  the  finest 
slippers  and  most  spotless  linen  when  you  repair  to  the 
drawing-room.  But  is  there  room  for  mental  culture  ?  In 
no  employment  is  there  more,  except  it  be  a  purely  profes- 
sional one.  Or  perhaps  I  should  say,  might  there  be  more. 
At  present,  farmers  work  too  much,  more  than  is  needful 
or  profitable.  From  sun  to  sun  is  too  long  for  any  man 
to  work.  But  we  are  making  progress  ;  books,  and  pa- 
jjers,  and  magazines,  are  everywhere,  bringing  with  them 
thought  and  refinement.  On  how  many  tables  among  my 
neighbors  would  you  expect  to  find  the  Atlantic  f  You 
would  be  surprised  that  the  number  is  so  great.  The 
truth  is,  there  is  already  more  of  social  refinement  among 
people  who  work — actually  work  with  their  own  hands — 
than  you  of  the  city  seem  to  suppose. 

For  my  part,  I  believe  in  farming.  Should  you  con- 
clude to  try  your  hand  at  it,  I  hope  you  may  meet  with 
no  serious  disappointments,  which  you  will  not,  if  you 
love,  as  I  do,  to  go  out  and  work  "  among  sweet  dews  and 
flowers."         *         *         * 


